Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, Nov 30: Dakshina Kannada district has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rate in Karnataka, along with 12 other districts which have been identified as having the lowest number of HIV cases in the state.

The prevalence rate in the district has come down from one per cent in 2004 to the current 0.4 per cent in 2005. In 2005 the number of HIV cases recorded was 521 as compared to just 393 in August 2006. Among pregnant women, the prevalence rate has come down from 103 in 2005 to 56 in 2006.

The districts were classified based on the prevalence rate of HIV. Districts with less than one per cent were among the low-prevalence districts, those with 1-2 per cent rate were identified as medium-prevalence districts and ones with more than two per cent rate were classified as high-prevalence districts.

With December 1 being World Aids Day, this indeed comes as a hearty news to the people of DK district.