ELEVEN people died from AIDS related illnesses and 16 new cases of the disease were reported in the first three months of this year, according to Department of Health statistics.
This brings the total number of AIDS deaths since the disease emerged to 281, almost 55 per cent of the 514 cases reported. A total of 1,645 people have tested positive for HIV antibodies, 20 in the first quarter of the year.
The Department of Health has categorised 215 of those who have contracted AIDS as intravenous drug users 175 as homosexuals or bisexuals nine as homosexuals or bisexuals and intravenous drug users 61 as heterosexuals 31 haemophiliacs 11 children born to intravenous drug users six other children and six undetermined.
The number of deaths in each of these categories is shown in the accompanying table.
Those testing positive for HIV antibodies between January 1st and March 31st this year include for the first time a person categorised as having become HIV positive through receiving a blood transfusion.
According to the Department of Health, the blood transfusion was received outside the State before blood transfusion services began testing donated blood for HIV.
Figures from the Virus Reference Laboratory, which carries out all confirmatory HIV tests within the State, show that 1,645 people have tested positive since testing began in 1986.
Intravenous drug users represent 48 per cent of the total, homosexuals 21 per cent, heterosexuals 15 per cent, with the balance (16 per cent) made up of haemophiliacs, children and others.
Tests on 2,738 blood donors since testing began showed 20 HIV positive individuals.
A total of 16 prisoners out of 578 tested to date were found to be positive. Those who have tested positive also include 114 children.