45 people detected with HIV in north Cyprus in 2023

A total of 45 people were detected to have HIV in north Cyprus this year, according to a report by the TRNC Ministry of Health.

The Ministry stated that a total of 45 people were detected with HIV in the country between January 1 and November 30, 2023, and 23 of these people were TRNC citizens.

The Ministry pointed out that all TRNC citizens were men, while the other patients were 8 women and 14 men.

The Ministry of Health shared information about HIV/AIDS by reminding that the World Health Organization declared December 1 as World AIDS Day in 1988 in order to draw attention and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

The Ministry stated that, based on World Health Organization data, the HIV virus has claimed the lives of approximately 40.4 million people in the world so far.

According to the statement, there are an estimated 39 million HIV-positive people in the world by the end of 2022. In 2022, 630 thousand people will die from HIV-related causes, while 1.3 million people will be infected with HIV.

What is HIV?

"What is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)?" In Turkish, "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" is an infection that attacks the body's immune system. People who carry this virus are defined as "HIV positive". Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the disease weakening the immune system. is the most advanced stage.

How is HIV transmitted? Transmission can occur through any unprotected sexual contact, intravenous drug use through shared syringes, and administration of infected blood and blood products. Additionally, it can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy, during birth or after birth through breastfeeding. In addition, contamination can occur in procedures such as tattooing or piercing. 

In what ways is HIV not transmitted? HIV infection is not transmitted by working in the same workplace, going to the same school, social relations, hugging, being in the same environment with HIV-positive people, using the same fork and spoon, the same pool, the same toilet, mosquito bites, insect bites or sweat.

Is HIV a preventable disease? HIV infection is a preventable disease. Preventive measures are more effective and cheaper than treatment. Since the most common form of transmission is sexual contact, in addition to monogamy, using the correct condom in risky sexual contact is the safest and simplest way to protect against sexual transmission of the disease. In suspicious cases, it is necessary to apply to a health institution without delay and get tested. In our country, all blood and blood products are tested for HIV in order to protect against contamination by blood and blood products, and necessary tests are performed before organ and tissue transplantation.

How is HIV diagnosed? HIV testing can be done in all public hospitals in our country. All you have to do is to consult an infectious disease specialist. According to the notification and reporting system of infectious diseases, notification of HIV/AIDS cases is mandatory, but the notification of diagnosed patients is made using codes, without mentioning their names.

HIV-positive people who start drug treatment early can survive without disease.

Take precautions so you don't regret it!”