RUSSIA

Over the past decade, Russia has been home to one of the largest rates of new HIV infections in the world. As of December 2007, the national HIV prevalence rate among people aged 15-49 was 1.1 percent and an estimated 940,000 people under the age of 49 were living with HIV or AIDS.

Russia’s HIV epidemic has long been driven by injecting drug use, which is still the primary mode of transmission. Heterosexual transmission is on the rise, however, as is mother-to-child transmission.

With support from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Government team in country, the HIV/AIDS Twinning Center currently manages two partnerships in Russia.

(source: PEPFAR Country Profile, May 2009)

Updated June 8, 2009