HIV/AIDS in the Middle East

Health in Israel: Table of Contents | AIDS: A Jewish Perspective

Israel

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, 411 Israeli residents (278 males, 133 females) were diagnosed with HIV in 2010 out of approximately 2.6 million new cases around the world. Though this is a relatively small number compared to the global rate of infection, it represents the highest figure of new cases in Israel since at least the year 2000 when just over 300 new cases were reported. Every day around the world, at least 7,400 people are diagnosed with HIV, and one of them is Israeli. An additional 19 Israelis (12 males, 7 females) were newly diagnosed with AIDS in 2010.

Israel's first documented case of HIV/AIDS was in 1981 and from then through 2010 a total of 6,552 new cases have been diagnosed. As of December 2010, based on World Health Organization guidelines, the Israeli Ministry of Health estimates that there were 5,262 HIV carriers and 494 AIDS patients living in Israel. An additional 823 citizens who were diagnosed with AIDS from 1981 to 2011 have either died or left the country. The rate of HIV/AIDS in Israel is 52.8 cases per million residents.

An Israeli HIV/AIDS registry has been in operation since the onset of the epidemic. HIV testing is systematic among blood donors, prisoners at entry, certain groups of immigrants from high-prevalence countries and among intravenous drug users before initiating detoxification programs. Testing, which is confidential and free to anyone requesting it, is available at Israeli health fund clinics and in AIDS centers at hospitals.

Middle East & North Africa

In the Muslim countries of the Middle East and North Africa, overall numbers of reported HIV cases remained low, though there have been recent increases due to expanded HIV/AIDS testing efforts. With the exception of Sudan, most HIV infections in the region occurred in men and in urban areas.

In 2007, an estimated 55,000 new HIV infections occurred in the Middle East and North Africa and the number of people living with HIV in the region reached 530,000 by year end. 91% of the reported AIDS cases were adults; 8% were youth aged between 15 and 24 years, and 2% were children below 5 years of age. 29% of the cumulative total reported AIDS cases were female.

Estimated HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years was 0.2% at the end of 2007, though prevalence varies widely between countries. Most countries reported low levels of the HIV/AIDS (i.e. <1% HIV prevalence in the general population and <5% in at-risk groups). These countries included Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

There were several factors reported that could increase the HIV infection rate in the Middle East and North Africa. Examples are the possible transmission of HIV from intravenous drug users into the wider population, an increase in unprotected extramarital sex, and limited sexual health education. In addition, HIV-related stigmas and discrimination remains an issue in the region and hinders AIDS awareness and prevention education.