Thirty new HIV cases have been detected from June to November this year. This takes the total number of HIV cases detected this year to 57.
Of the 30 new people detected with HIV, 14 male and 16 female. The health ministry says most of them are between the ages of 25 to 49.
Twenty nine of them contracted the virus through unprotected sex. One of the cases was a mother-to-child transmission.
Contact tracing remained the highest mode of diagnosis, followed by medical screening. Some were detected through voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), and antenatal check.
The ministry says all new cases are being treated at the national referral hospital.
A total of 627 people-323 male and 304 female-have been detected with HIV from 1993 till November this year.
But it is feared the actual number could be higher. The health ministry says there is a case detection gap of 50 per cent as of November 2018.
What this means is only 50 per cent of the estimated 1256 people living with the virus in the country know their HIV status. The remaining 638 people living with the virus are still unaware of their HIV status.
The health ministry also says the majority of the people living with the virus are in between the ages of 20-49. This shows HIV in Bhutan has affected the most economically productive age group.
The transmission of HIV and AIDS in Bhutan is also unique as compared to other countries in the region where HIV infection is mostly concentrated in one or two key population groups. In Bhutan, it has affected all sections of population.
This, the health ministry says, makes HIV prevention a daunting task.
Meanwhile, the World Aids Day this year will be observed in Samdrup Jongkhar.
The health ministry will also organize a mobile National HIV Testing Week in Thimphu, Phuentshogling , Gelegphu, Trongsa, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Lobesa in Punakha from 1-8 December.
