Beijing (AsiaNews/AFP) – Chinese authorities have made an appeal to the nation to fight the rapid spread of AIDS/HIV, warning citizens not to cover up the disease.

During an AIDS conference held in Beijing deputy premier and health minister, Wu Yi, said that any infection "must be reported in time and with openly".    

 "Whoever attempts to cover up the disease must assume the responsibility for his own actions and will be punished," Wu Yi said. She pointed out his concern for the disease, which is "at a critical point in its spreads by high-risk groups to ordinary (low-risk)  people."   

The minister said that should the fight against the disease not be taken seriously "there will be grave repercussions,"  underscoring the importance of prevention and monitoring AIDS/HIV cases

According to official estimates there are 840,000 people suffering from HIV/AIDS in China. But international experts say the figure is much higher. The diseases is spreading at a growing rate of 30% per year, the highest in the world.  

The United Nations agency UNAIDS says that if there is not an efficacious intervention, there might be 10 million seropositive persons in China and 260,000 "AIDS" orphans by 2010.   

In the past China had denied the spread of HIV throughout its territory.

Wu Yi,  who became health minister during the Sars crisis, was the first to have given greater attention to the deadly disease. The Sars outbreak, covered up by the government for various months, has raised fears and opposition within the international community. Since then the government has been led to be more open about and willing to give more rights where public heath is concerned or jeopardized.  (MR)

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