THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The HIV positivity rate is on a declining trend in Kerala. According to the State AIDS Control Society, 13,54,874 people, including men and women and transgenders, were tested between January and October 2023. The virus was detected in 1042 people.

The virus was detected in more people in Ernakulam in April - October 2023. Out of 1,70,951 people, 150 people, including two pregnant women, tested positive. 1,23,675 people were tested in Kozhikode and 1,70,025 in Thiruvananthapuram in which 84 and 82 tested positive respectively, including three pregnant women.

Out of 255662 people in Wayanad, 10 people have the virus. 15 pregnant women are positive in all districts.

An average of 1200 people are infected with HIV every year. The virus is seen in people that falls in the 15-49 age group. From 2020, Kerala has prevented mother-to-child transmission of the virus. The AIDS Control Society states that the virus can be controlled with ART (antiretroviral therapy) if the test turns positive.

Causes

Migration into and out of the state
Injecting drugs in young people

Unsafe sexual experimentation

Having unprotected sex with multiple partners

In Kerala

2021
Tests -1006913
Infected -866

2022
Tests-1284136

Infected -1126

till October 2023
Tests - 1354874

Infected - 1042

Prevention
1) Accept blood from authorized blood banks only

2) Avoid unprotected sex

3)Pregnant women should get checked in the first trimester

4) Avoid drug use.