[The epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection in Russia in 1987-1991]

The data on the occurrence of HIV in Russia in 1987-1991 are presented and the effects of the epidemiological surveillance system used at that time on the epidemiological process of HIV infection in the Russian Federation is evaluated. The most important features of that system included the centralized registration of all cases of HIV infection irrespective of the degree of clinical symptoms, large-scale obligatory examination of the population for antibody to HIV, epidemiological investigation of all reported cases of HIV infection. The occurrence of HIV infection in 1987-1991 in Russia remained very low, 0.335 per 100,000, showing no trend for increase. Owing to that system of the epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection in the USSR, nosocomial outbreaks were discovered which gave a rise in the number of recorded cases in 1989. In 1990-1991, changes in the structure of the epidemic process occurred. In those years, HIV transmission among homosexuals became most important, increasing from 22.4% to 47.8% which characterized the beginning of a new stage of the epidemic. On the whole, the epidemiological surveillance system for HIV in the USSR, 1987-1991, was effective, although it needs improvement including reconsideration of the population groups to be obligatorily examined for HIV antibody.