KUALA LUMPUR - Beware philandering husbands who bring home disease.

The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report revealed an alarming 30% of all new HIV cases in Malaysia are women, a 400% jump from five years ago. The majority are married.

No longer are homosexuals and drug users the groups more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

More complicated

'It has brought a new set of issues that we need to deal with and it is becoming more complex now,' said UN resident co-ordinator Kamal Malhotra.

"It should be dealt with as more than a health issue, but also from the religious and legal aspects as well."

The WHO findings on women's health was conducted last month.

Malhotra. was speaking at the launch of The Red Carnival in conjunction with World AIDS Day at Sungei Wang Plaza here on Saturday.

The two-day event, held by PT Foundation, was aimed at raising public awareness on HIV/AIDS especially among youths.

Innocents pay dearly

PT Foundation chairman Hisham Hussein said many women and children had been infected with HIV/AIDS in the last few years.

People must not remain complacent about the scourge and strive not to discriminate against those who have the disease, he said.

In Malaysia, 85,000 people have been infected with the HIV, with about 15 new cases appearfing daily.
A total of 315 Malaysians have died from AIDS this year..

There are at present 33.4 million people around the world who are living with the disease., and nearly three million new cases were registered last year.