CHANDIGARH, OCT 11: "There is a drastic rise in the number of HIV positive cases all over the country. And what is even more alarming is that such cases are being reported from the age group of 20 to 40 years." This was stated by Dr Usha Datta, Head of Department of Immunopathology, PGI, while speaking at `AIDS Update', a national symposium being held at PGI.Experts from different fields deliberated on different aspects of the disease, stressing on the need to identify the positive cases early, so that efforts can be made to check the spread of disease.There are drugs available in the market which can check the multiplication of HIV in blood. But since these drugs are expensive, all do not have access to these. Once the level of virus in the blood is ascertained, efforts can be made to check it, so that the immune system can be saved to some extent. Still there are no drugs which can completely wipe out the virus, said experts.The two-day symposium organised by the Department of Immunopathology, was inaugurated today by Prof B.K. Sharma, Director, PGI. In his inaugural address, Dr Sharma, touched on issues like the rising incidence of the disease, need for an effective vaccine for control, and the possible role of doctors in handling the HIV positive patients.The souvenir brought out on the occasion was released by Dr V.K. Vinayak, Advisor, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, who stressed the need to use molecular biological techniques in curbing the disease. Dr Amit Ghosh, Director, Institute of Microbial Technology, talked about the role of biotechnology in intervention and control of HIV infection.While talking to Newsline Dr Shahid Jameel from ICGEB, New Delhi, said: "As far as knowledge regarding HIV is concerned, we have made tremendous progress. But the AIDS virus has posed an insurmountable challenge. In case of viral diseases, the immune system is given a boost to fight it. But this virus is such that it attacks the immune system itself. As such the traditional methods of preparing the vaccine that of introducing the virus to produce immunity have failed. And it cannot be said how many more years it will take before we can finally say that we have the cure in our hands."Dr D.N. Lanjewar from Sir J.J.Hospital, Mumbai, said: "AIDS patients get affected by diseases that are prevalent in the community. The post mortem studies have suggested that 59 per cent cases get tuberculosis easily, since it is there in the community. The symptoms of AIDS cases start from uncontrolled weight loss to tuberculosis to chronic diahorrea." In Chandigarh, the number of cases screened for HIV are 56,370, with 243 positive cases. Also, the ratio of males to females is 2:1, according to Dr Usha Datta of PGI. Dr N.M. Sharma of State AIDS Control Society talked about NACO activity in UT, while Dr Sunil K.Arora talked about laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection.
