AIDS assumes an epidemic proportion in the Perm Region, situated in the north-east of European Russia. According to data of the regional centre for AIDS prevention, AIDS was registered in 21 out of 46 region's districts since the start of the current year.

The greatest numbers of HIV-infected people were registered in the cities of Krasnokamensk and Perm. All in all, 1,000 HIV carriers live in the region. As many as 13 people already died of this disease.

The region drafted a programme to fight this scourge of the 20th century. A total of 25 HIV-infected couples are treated as out-patients. Four babies were born in such families.

bur/ezh



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