HIV/AIDS in Henan Province

The HIV epidemic in Henan was uncovered in the mid-1990s when authorities discovered that blood and blood plasma collection malpractices had resulted in concentrated geographical areas with extremely high HIV prevalence levels (the term “AIDS villages” has commonly been used). The Henan experience with HIV is unique from a global perspective in that it is the only large-scale HIV epidemic that has been caused by blood plasma contamination. The local epidemic in Henan first became known to the general public around the turn of the century, when local and international media started covering the issue. Following this, the provincial and national governments have consistently had a clear focus on fighting the epidemic and providing sufficient care to those affected—both providing treatment and financial support in the case of the former paid plasma donor (FPD) population. While the epidemic driven by plasma donation malpractices (first wave) was largely self-ended, the current epidemic (second wave) is mainly driven by sexual transmission (heterosexual and among men who have sex with men), more in line with the general situation in other parts of China. In order to reverse the current trend, where the number of newly reported cases has increased on a year-to-year basis, the prevention work most likely needs to adopt new methods to fight the epidemic.