China Country Snapshots

Of the estimated 810 000 PLHIV, an estimated 46.9% contracted HIV through heterosexual contact, 20.3% through male‐to‐male sex, 25.7% through injecting drug use, 6.0% through former plasma donation or receipt of contaminated blood/blood products, and 1.1% through mother to child transmission (MTCT). There are significant increases in MSM transmission.

HIV was first identified in an American tourist in 1985 and the first epidemic of HIV infections was detected among drug users in the border regions of China in 1989. china is experiencing a low-prevalence epidemic, although some key regions are experiencing high prevalence epidemics.