Epidemiology of AIDS/HIV in Japan

The data obtained from the national reporting system of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its causative immune deficiency virus (HIV), the epidemic pattern of AIDS cases and HIV carriers in Japan from 1985 to 1995 could be summarized as follows: 1) the total number of reported AIDS cases and HIV carriers were 1,154 and 3,524 which included 167 and 915 foreigners, respectively; 2) among them the number of HIV carriers in hemophiliacs transmitted through HIV contaminated blood products was 1,806, including 582 AIDS victims; 3) excluding these hemophiliacs, there are 572 AIDS cases (167 foreigners) which shared risk factors for heterosexual contacts (37%) and homosexual contacts (31%), respectively; 4) on the other hand, more than 50% were heterosexuals and only 20% were homosexuals in 1,718 HIV carriers (915 foreigners); 5) the peak incidence is 33% in the 30s in AIDS, while more than 50% are in their 20s; 6) male-to-female ratio was 6.8 in AIDS cases but only 1.1 in HIV carriers; 7) the estimated number of HIV carriers in 2000 was 6,300-8,500 in Japanese and 700-1,700 in foreigners, respectively. From the above mentioned epidemic pattern of AIDS/HIV in Japan, we have to recognize that the recent number of HIV infection is actually increasing and the most of current HIV carriers even in foreigners are infected with HIV in our country and general activities for AIDS prevention in Japan and neighboring Asian countries should be promoted.