Seroprevalence of HIV infection among jail inmates in Orissa

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was carried out in three prisons in Orissa from March 1994 to December 1995. All the pr isoners of Indian origin (300), housed in these jails tested negative for H IV infection, On the other hand, 33.8 per cent (26/77) of jail inmates from foreign countries (Thailand and Myanmar), serving short terms in Orissa ja ils were found positive for HIV infection. While all the 26 HIV positive pr isoners had HIV-1 infection, five of them had antibodies for HIV-1 and HIV- 2 viruses. Such a high prevalence of HIV infection and detection of HIV-2 v irus is being reported for the first time from Orissa.