A pan–India study reveals that even though there has been a slow but steady decline of HIV+ve cases in recent years, the maximum prevalence of HIV infections still persists among people less than 30 years of age. However, in Pune, the maximum cases are between the 30 – 40 age group, according to a study.

It has been also observed that HIV is predominant in males, and the ratio of males over females is 60: 40.

Further, the rate of positivity out of the screened tests is 10 per cent in Mumbai and Surat but it is 30 – 40 per cent at other places,especially, north India.

The survey was conducted by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd ahead of the 'World AIDS Day' which was observed on Thursday.

"With a total of 9,18, 277 people screened, the survey spans eight major cities namely Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat and Kerala. The survey has been conducted across three tests namely Western Blot Test for HIV–1 specific and 2, HIV Proviral DNA – blood by PCR and HIV–DUO by CMIA (IVth Generation test) that highlights the fact that incidence of HIV is more prevalent in younger age groups which is highly alarming," chief of lab services, projects – North India, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd Dr Jatinder Bhatia stated in a press release.

According to the United Nations 2011 AIDS Report, every day over 7,400 people are infected with HIV and 5,500 die from AIDS– related illnesses. Fortunately, there has been a 50 per cent decline in the number of new HIV infections in the last 10 years in India.