Chinese mainland last year reported 36,161 HIV carriers, including 7,909 AIDS patients and 1,809 deaths, according to China News Service.

Among the reported victims, 2,263 were new carriers found by the country's AIDS inspection system, which tested 236,320 people last year,

The national disease control and prevention center has established 16 inspection centers in 10 provinces and autonomous regions, and is launching a follow-up inspection on drug tolerance for patients who were treated in 2004 and 2005.

The number of HIV carriers treated last year on the Chinese mainland increased by 7,618 from a year ago while the death rate declined 4.2 percent.

A total of 30,640 AIDS patients received free medical treatment, the report said.

By the end of last year, 191,565 HIV carriers were cumulatively reported to be on the mainland. There were 47,713 AIDS patients and the death toll was 13,632.

(Shanghai Daily April 3, 2007)