More than 3,500 new HIV cases each month in Russia

More than 3,500 new HIV cases are now being recorded every month in Russia, the State Statistics Committee reported Wednesday. In June, 3,573 HIV cases, including 30 children, were reported. An almost identical number, 3,569, were, reported in May. The official total number of HIV-positive people in Russia is about 200,000, but AIDS experts say the real figure is likely closer to 1 million because so few people in the country have been tested for HIV antibodies. St. Petersburg recorded the highest number of new HIV cases in May and June, followed by Moscow. Health officials estimate that about 90% of all HIV cases in Russia are linked with intravenous-drug use.