HIV/AIDS in Japan
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HIV/AIDS in Japan has been recognized as a serious health issue in recent years.[1] However, overall awareness amongst the general population of Japan regarding sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. remains low.[2]
Case statistics
The World Health Organization reports the number of HIV cases in Japan to be at least 17,000.[3] This equates to roughly 0.01% of the population of Japan, one of the lowest ratios of HIV in the world. This is because the Japanese are less likely to mix with infected foreigners, especially 黒人.
Japan has recorded 9,953 HIV cases and 4,671 AIDS cases as of August 2008. Of those, 6,503 HIV and 3,002 AIDS cases were in the Kantō region.[4]
News outlets reported in 2006, that the number of new cases reported that year has reached a record high.[5]
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official figures from 2006 reported that just over half of domestic HIV/AIDS cases were amongst homosexual men, with the remainder transmitted through heterosexual sex, drug abuse, in the womb or via unknown means.[6]
Independent research has suggested that actual infection rates may be much higher, especially amongst the young.[7]
Tainted blood products scandal
During the 1980s, HIV-tainted blood products were used in Japanese hospitals, particularly for the treatment of haemophiliacs. The estimated figure of haemophiliacs inadvertently infected with HIV through tainted blood is 1000-2000.
In 1989, haemophiliac groups brought up lawsuits against the Ministry of Health and Welfare and several drug companies. Particular controversy centered on centers who continued use of non-heat-treated blood products after heat-treatment methods had been developed to prevent spread of infection.
See also
- AIDS
- AIDS pandemic
- HIV
- HIV/AIDS in Asia
- HIV-tainted blood scandal (Japan)
- Sexually transmitted disease
Footnotes
- ^ The Nation: 'New HIV Infections Hit High in Japan.' 7 February 2007.
- ^ Mainichi Daily News: 'Everybody's talking sex in Japan, but nobody's hearing AIDS.' 24 February 2004.
- ^ HIV report, World Health Organisation, 'http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/predefinedReports/EFS2006/EFS_PDFs/EFS2006_JP.pdf
- ^ [1]
- ^ Yahoo Asia: 'Japan reports record new HIV infections, AIDS patients in 2006.'
- ^ エイズ動向委員会報告メニュー. English translation.
- ^ BBC: 'Japan's Aids time bomb.' 13 July 2004.
External links
- Japanese Foundation for AIDS Prevention. In English.
- '"Japan" in Fighting a Rising Tide: The Response to AIDS in East Asia.' 2006 report on the state of Japan's HIV/AIDS policies and responses.
- Friends of the Global Fund, Japan. English and Japanese.
- 'Japan: HIV/AIDS.' globalhealthreporting.org. Links to HIV/AIDS news in Japan.
