During the two first months of 2009, five news cases of AIDS have been reported in Albania. According to the local press (Panorama, 16.03.2009, p.7) three of them went to the Institute of Public Health to have an analysis made and two others were detected at the Infective Diseases Hospital. This makes the official number of people ever infected by the virus in Albania 260. Out of this total, 36 have lost their lives. The real number is suspected to be larger, but people might be unaware or ashamed of the disease and not seek medical help. Non-protected sexual intercourse is thought to be the main spreading factor of the disease. The press reports that the number of young people voluntarily presenting themselves to take an AIDS’ test has increased by 35 %, showing a growing concern among this population group. During recent years, the number of infected babies tended to grow. For this reason, childbearing mothers are required to take an AIDS’ test during their pregnancy.
The tests are carried out at the Infective Diseases Hospital of Tirana and at the Institute of Public Health. The official internet site of the latter is actually hacked.
