The number of HIV-infected pregnant women in South Africa appears to have dropped further last year, signalling a possible overall decrease in cases of the virus, the health minister said Thursday.
Preliminary findings of the latest survey of HIV prevalence among pregnant women at public pre-natal clinics showed the decrease, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said.
She said the survey showed HIV prevalence among women had dropped from an estimated 29.2 percent in 2006 to 28 percent last year.
Last year's survey also showed a decrease from the 30.2 percent reported for 2005.
The minister said the new numbers suggest an overall decrease in prevalence of HIV, which causes AIDS.
South Africa has the highest number of HIV sufferers in the world with around 5.5 million of the 47 million population affected by the virus.
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SAfrica-health-AIDS
AFP 051754 GMT 06 08
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