Brazil will distribute 11 million condoms during Carnival

Brazil, one of the Latin American countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, will hand out a record 11 million condoms to prevent the spread of HIV during its erotically charged Carnival festival, when casual sex rises. With the pre-Lenten celebrations two weeks away, the "Dress Yourself" campaign is to remind revelers a condom should be part of their outfit, no matter how little they wear to parades and parties renowned for seminude, hip-thrusting dancers. Millions of Brazilians and foreigners flock to cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife for the February 4-9 festival. The safer sex campaign hits Brazilian television screens next week showing grinning celebrities waving condoms as they dance to popular Carnival samba tune, "What will you wear?" (Reuters)