MSACS officials said that 2,97,375 blood samples have been tested since October 1990 till October this year.
The officials said that while the number of new infections decreased considerably, the change in the mode of transmission was disturbing.
“During the early years, intravenous drug users and sex workers were the high risk groups, but things have changed over the past years,” they said, adding that as of now, an alarming 68.85 per cent of HIV positives got infected through unprotected sexual intercourse.
Students staged demonstrations on the streets as the World AIDS Day was observed here with placards reading – “Getting to Zero - Zero Infection, Zero Discrimination & Zero Death”, the theme of the World AIDS Day 2014.
Shillong: Over 2300 people are infected with HIV that causes AIDS in Meghalaya and 460 new cases annually were detected, State Health Minister AL Hek said today.
The HIV prevalence is estimated at 2,381 infections which included adults as well as children and an estimation of 460 new cases of HIV infections in the age group of 15 years and above annually, Hek who addressed the World Aids Day celebration here said.
It is of paramount importance that new HIV infections be prevented and will require a decisive action guided by a ground breaking vision of Zero new HIV Infection, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS related deaths. We believe that by taking the right decision we can achieve universal access to HIV prevention treatment, care and support, he said.
Earlier, Hek flagged off the Zindagi Zindabad Campaign to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS throughout the State and lighted a candle to mark the celebration of the World AIDS Day.