Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Medicine, Society

She said that 17 out of 100,000 people in Latvia are infected with HIV. In Estonia, this indicator is 24 HIV cases per 100,000 population. In Lithuania, in the meantime, as well as in many other member states the number of people infected with HIV is 6 per 100,000 population.

In Latvia, HIV is usually diagnosed at a late stage, often already at the AIDS stage. Seven people per 100,000 residents in Latvia are diagnosed with HIV too late, while elsewhere in Europe, this indicator is one per 100,000 population, said Feldmane.

The specialist also said that the number of new HIV cases in heterosexual people in Latvia is growing. Another alarming news is that 30% of people diagnosed with HIV are unaware of the source of the infection, Feldmane added.

A total of 347 new HIV infections and 171 AIDS cases were registered in Latvia in 2014.

Approximately 1,000 persons out of the total number of 6,000 HIV patients in Latvia receive specific treatment at the moment.

This is a comparatively low indicator, said Feldmane. This is primarily due to the fact that treatment of HIV in Latvia, as compared to other European Union countries, often begins too late.

Those patients who are not treated for HIV regularly visit their doctor and their condition is monitored, up until a moment they meet the criteria for receiving treatment for HIV.

HIV treatment is meant to not only improve a patient's condition, it is also a preventive measure to ensure that the person cannot infect other people.

European countries have committed themselves to oust HIV by 2030, hoping that no new HIV cases will be registered in Europe after 2030. "If we look at these targets, we will have a lot to do, and we are just at the very beginning. However, if there is resolve, if we support each other, very much can be achieved," stressed Feldmane.

Aleksandrs Molokovskis, head of the HIV.LV association, said that HIV patients in Europe mostly die of diseases that are not associated with HIV, which is thanks to quality treatment they are provided. HIV treatment can also achieve that, regardless of the level of immune cells, the person cannot infect other people with HIV, he added.

As reported, a total of 347 new HIV infections and 171 AIDS cases were registered in Latvia in 2014. In the first six months this year, 165 new HIV cases and 42 new AIDS cases were registered.