The characteristics of HIV infection during a sharp activation of the epidemic process in Rostov Province

A considerable growth in cases of HIV infection in Rostov Province was registered in 1996-1997. Number of men was 525, number of women--196 cases, were registered. The highest index of HIV infection was noted in group of tested by epidemiological evidence (4494,4 per 100,000 tested persons), which was 57.2 times higher than the average level for this region. The growth in the number of infected persons was due to the import of HIV from the territory of Ukraine and the subsequent spread of the virus among drug addicts introducing drugs by intravenous injection.