Recently published figures concerning the spread of HIV and AIDS in Greece have revealed a shocking increase in the rate of infection, especially among intravenous drug users, the health ministry said on Monday.

Figures presented by the Centre for the Control and Prevention of Diseases (KEELPNO) for January-October 2011 there were 803 new infections reported in that period, of which 686 were men and 117 were women. There was also a significant surge in HIV/AIDS among intravenous drug users, with the rate of infection increasing 1250 percent to reach 190 new reported cases, just under a quarter of all new cases reported in the same ten-month period.

The highest number of new infections was still among men having sexual contact with other men (33 percent), while one in four of the infected women was under 25 years old. Among the victims in 2011 were three children (two boys and a girl) born to mothers that used drugs.

According to Health Minister Andreas Loverdos, drug addiction and illegal prostitution, especially when combined with illegal migration, were the main culprits for the rise in the rate of infection.

Concerning illegal prostitution, Loverdos stressed that the lack of protection was allowing the disease to spread through undeclared prostitution into the general population. He said that Greeks had to realise that they were at risk and announced that KEELPNO will soon be launching an information campaign on this issue.

KEELPNO warned that HIV was rife in those involved in illegal prostitution, adding that there were currently 600 illegal brothels operating in Attica alone. It said the spread of HIV among intravenous drug users was encouraged by generally poor economic and social conditions, prostitution, a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, unprotected sex and sharing needles.

Loverdos announced that the state will distribute 100,000 syringes and condoms in Athens and Thessaloniki as a means of containing the spread of the disease.

The figures were presented in view of the 23rd Panhellenic AIDS Conference that will take place in Athens on November 25-27.