In The News

Spread of AIDS in Rural China Ignites Protests

Elisabeth Rosenthal December 11, 2001
Chinese officials are suppressing open discussion of AIDS, hindering already limited efforts to combat the spiraling epidemic. Rural areas - particularly in central China - emerged as the epicenter of the HIV-AIDS epidemic as farmers were exposed to the virus while selling blood. For years, the infected farmers remained ignorant about AIDS because the government withheld vital information. Now...

Spread of AIDS in Rural China Ignites Protests

Elisabeth Rosenthal November 12, 2001
For the first time, China announced its observance of World AIDS day. However, lack of AIDS awareness and unrest in some provinces prove that China still has a long way to go to address the epidemic. Several provinces in rural China, whose HIV incidence is still undetermined though believed to be very high, have either been ignored or suppressed by the government. Protesters and journalists were...