Northeast States Lead in HIV/AIDS Prevalence, Mizoram at 2.73%
AIZAWL/KOHIMA: Mizoram and Nagaland continue to have the highest HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rates in India, according to the latest data shared by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), officials said on Thursday.
Among adults aged 15 to 49, Mizoram has a prevalence rate of 2.73 per cent, while Nagaland stands at 1.37 per cent. These figures are significantly higher than the national average of 0.20 per cent and are the highest among all states and Union Territories.
Other northeastern states also report prevalence rates above the national average. Manipur has a rate of 0.87 per cent, followed by Meghalaya (0.43 per cent), Tripura (0.37 per cent), and Arunachal Pradesh (0.25 per cent). Assam (0.13 per cent) and Sikkim (0.11 per cent) are the only northeastern states with a lower prevalence rate than the national average.
In Mizoram, Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii highlighted the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the rising HIV prevalence. Speaking at the governing body meeting of the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) in Aizawl, the Minister stated, “The situation leaves no room for complacency and requires intensified intervention across sectors.”
MSACS Project Director Dr. Jane Rinzuali Ralte informed that 2,069 new People Living with HIV (PLHIV) were registered across the state’s 14 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres during 2024–2025. She added that 97.7 per cent of those receiving treatment have achieved viral suppression, meaning they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others.
Dr. Ralte also noted that while there has been a steady decline in new HIV cases in recent years, Mizoram continues to record the highest overall prevalence. As part of its response, MSACS conducted HIV testing and awareness campaigns in de-addiction centres and carried out Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities in all 11 districts. Candlelight vigils were held in memory of those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS.
She further shared that the Mizoram State Blood Transfusion Council (MSBTC) received the ‘Excellence in Blood Donation 2023–24’ award for being the best-performing council in the northeastern region.
In Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha underlined the importance of addressing key public health challenges. “A reduction in drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and child marriage is a must,” said Saha, who is also a dental surgeon. He expressed concern over rising drug abuse, particularly among injectable drug users, which has contributed to increasing HIV/AIDS cases in the state.
Jyoti Kumari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Journalism Intern. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. She is passionate about news reporting, content creation, social media, and emerging media trends.