* Text Courtesy IANS

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(IANS) The number of new annual HIV infections has declined by around 56 percent during the last decade in the country, the Lok Sabha was informed Friday.

Minister of State for Health S. Gandhiselvan said that based on HIV estimations 2010, it is estimated that India had approximately 1.2 lakh new infections in 2009, as against 2.7 lakh in 2000.

"Similar reduction in HIV incidence has been noted in all the high prevalence states in the southern and northeastern region. However, some low prevalence states have shown a slight increase in the number of new infections over the past two years," he said.

Of the 1.2 lakh estimated new infections in 2009, the six high prevalence states account for only 39 percent of the cases, while the states of Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 41 percent of new infections.

"In regard to number of reported HIV/AIDS cases registered in ART (anti-retroviral therapy) centres for HIV care, during the year 2010-11, 320,114 HIV/AIDS cases were registered against 246,627 in 2009-10. However, during 2011-12, the same number has been decreased to 275,377 cases," Gandhiselvan said.

The minister said that there was significant decline in HIV prevalence among female sex workers and young women (15-24 years) seeking antenatal care in the high-prevalence southern states.