HIV and Drugs: A Ticking Timebomb

According to a new report by the Icelandic Directorate of Health, a total of 11 cases of HIV were diagnosed in 2006, eight men and three women. According to the report, the disease is still rare in Iceland, but should be considered endemic. A higher percentage of heterosexual persons are now contracting the disease than before. According to the Icelandic Directorate of Health, HIV among intravenous drug-users is on the rise. Three related cases were diagnosed in the final months of 2006 and the Directorate warns that this number will rise if no effort is made to make clean needles and syringes available freely available to intravenous drug-users.