TAIPEI – A 13 YEAR-OLD BOY has become the youngest person to
become infected with
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids) through sexual
intercourse, according to health officials.
It is suspected that the boy became infected while working part-
time for a 50 year-old male, who lured him into sex with money,
said Lin Ting, deputy director-general at the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The boy was visiting an adolescent centre when he tested
positive for Aids, Mr Lin said, adding that the CDC had traced the
source of transmission to the older man, whose test also came back
positive.
Mr Lin noted that young boys were referred to as ‘Sky Food,’ or
delicious food falling from the sky, by adult homosexuals on the
internet, who seek ways of enticing boys either with money or other
incentives.
According to statistics compiled last year, the number of young
people contracting the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has continued to rise in
Taiwan. Compared to 2009, 13.3 per cent more cases were diagnosed
among those aged between 15 and 24 years old, the deputy
director-general said. As of today, there are 55 cases where
victims are under 19 years old.
Mr Lin pointed out that sexual encounters and drug injections
are the two major routes of infection.
With the HIV/Aids population in Taiwan standing at 20,057, and
65.9 per cent of those with the disease were infected by engaging
in sexual practices and 32.2 per cent through intravenous drug
use.
-- Yahoo! News
