HIV epidemic expands to general population in 27 Russian regions

The human immunodeficiency virus is spreading among the general population rather than only traditional risk groups in 27 regions of the Russian Federation. Euronews and Radar.am both reported that health authorities have classified the situation in these 27 regions as a generalised HIV epidemic. [1][2]

Data from Rospotrebnadzor and its Central Research Institute of Epidemiology indicates that people are increasingly passing the virus to one another, often without knowing they are infected. Euronews reported that in these 27 affected regions, doctors are diagnosing HIV in more than 1% of pregnant women. [1]

Russia is the largest country in the world and has a population of over 140 million people. Three-fourths of its residents live in urban areas, with Moscow serving as the capital and largest city. [3]