In Russia's Far East hundreds of men are being tested for HIV/AIDS. A criminal investigation is underway into allegations that a teenage girl has been intentionally infecting men.
The male population of the remote Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have lined up at hospitals and clinics to have their blood samples taken for HIV/AIDS. The local police have so far identified only four persons who were sexually involved with the 17-year-old girl. They say the total number has yet to be established. Purposeful HIV infection is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of up to eight years in jail. But if found guilty, the girl could get away with a suspended sentence because of her age.Her name has not been revealed and only few details of the case have been leaked to the press.“We are investigating what seems to be a case of purposeful AIDS infection. The suspect is a 17 year-old girl. Despite being aware of her diagnosis she has had sex with a number of men,” said Evgeny Kurdenkov, Deputy police chief.Though cases of purposeful infection in Russia are extremely rare, HIV/AIDS is becoming an increasing problem. With 370 thousand registered cases in 2006, the HIV/AIDS incidence is growing rapidly. According to the US National Intelligence Council, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Russia may reach between four and eight MLN by 2010.