HIV-positive patients *real* number may be 1/3rd of estimate…

Back in January of this year, I wrote about the disturbing tendency of media to let sensationalism get the better of accuracy and balance in the chase for headlines.

The topic was AIDS and its prevalence in India.

In that post, I referred to Tosh’s excellent piece on this topic: Of AIDS, Indian disasters and Apple IIe mindsets

I wrote a followup post last month mentioning how the numbers of HIV-positive patients might actually be significantly lower. It now looks like “the new estimate, drawing from a recent population-based survey, would be lower by at least 43 percent and possibly by as much as 61 percent.” (see, “India’s HIV caseload may fall by nearly two-thirds”) 

Reacting to the latest numbers, Health Minister Anbumani Ramados said at a press conference that India had always been accused of underestimating the number of Aids cases…”That was a disturbing allegation, and today, we have a far more reliable estimate” 

Related Posts:

AIDS’ first casualty in India: Truth 

AIDS’ first casualty in India: Part 2 

You may also like...