Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Releases Report Card on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C in Canadian Prison System
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network yesterday released a report stating that an HIV/AIDS epidemic is "raging" unchecked through Canadian prisons because authorities are "either too complacent or too irrational" to prevent the spread of the virus, the Toronto Globe and Mail reports. According to the report, titled "Action on HIV/AIDS in Prisons: Too Little, Too Late -- A Report Card," HIV/AIDS incidence has increased 35% in Canadian prisons since 1996, and Canadian prisoners are six times more likely to be HIV-positive than other Canadians. In addition, 20% to 80% of prisoners are infected with hepatitis C, compared to .08% of the general Canadian population (Makin, Globe and Mail, 11/20). The complete report is available online.
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