After regaining the independence in 1990, Lithuania faced the worldwide nightmare – AIDS. Now official figures of infected people are not so large; but they are frightening because in future number of AIDS and HIV infected can increase.

According to 25 08 2000 data provided by Lithuania AIDS Center, there are 247 HIV infected persons in Lithuania, 215 men and 32 women. 48 were infected through heterosexual act, 49 through homosexual act, 142 using drugs; the infection source of 13 persons remains unknown. 81 infected are Vilnius residents, 9 inhabit in Kaunas, 106 in Klaipeda, 6 in Ðiauliai etc. AIDS was diagnosed to 35 persons, 24 of them already died but only 15 from AIDS while others from other reasons not linked to this disease. These figures perhaps are not very frightening for the big countries with large number of AIDS and HIV infected; but Lithuania is a small country with only 3,7 million population. The fact itself that there are some people with this disease makes Lithuanian authorities and society be worried. AIDS can be detected only after 4 weeks from infection, so it is possible that there are more infected people but not registered in any surveys and researches. AIDS is more spread in port city Klaipeda. The sailors constantly travel all around the world, ashore in many countries. Sexual contacts with local prostitutes and homosexuality are quite common. Although the XX century plague is considered to be transmitted by sexual contacts, the numbers show something different. The drug usage is the main way of infection with AIDS and HIV, basically intravenous. According to Ministry of Health data, the usage of drugs increased twofold or even more during past five years. This is one of the reasons why AIDS and HIV are rapidly spreading in Lithuania. Lithuania was isolated for some time, but ten years ago regained independence opening borders to the world. Such phenomena as drugs were present in Soviet Union also, but there was tough control and combat with drugs users and traffickers. Now things have changed. More liberty for some people mean doing what one wants, so drug using can be considered as free choice. Another threatening phenomena is neighboring Kaliningrad region where AIDS is spreading especially rapidly. One doesn't need to be a sailor or drug user to get infected with AIDS. Some people are going to Kaliningrad for business or vacation because everything is much cheaper there. There are no data about infecting locations. It is not clear whether Lithuanians infect themselves in Russia or not. The Ministry of Health, the AIDS center and other state authorities are concerned about the thread of this awful decease, which is coming to Lithuania and according to the date it is increasing. The new medicine against AIDS is still not so effective and rather expensive, so only rich people can afford it. What should others do? This question still remains the main for AIDS and HIV infected not only in small countries as Lithuania, but also in highly developed ones.