'About 1700 HIV patients may be hiding disease'

In a grim indicator of the spread of the AIDS/HIV disease in the state, Sikkim State AIDS Control Society (SSACS) said that the number of such cases may be more that the official figure of about 175 cases known to the nodal agency.

"There may be about 1700 AIDS/HIV cases in Sikkim who are hiding their disease by remaining underground or may beignorant of the disease," the SSACS Deputy Director DS Kerongi said at an interface with various tourism stakeholders today.

The figure has been calculated on the basis of the survey being conducted from time to time by the SSAC team by identification of the vulnerable people of the areas, he said.

Sikkim has a total of 175 cases of AIDS/HIV, comprising 114 male and 61 female undergoing medical treatment.