Marked on 1 December every year since 1988, World AIDS Day will run under the motto which seeks the ultimate goal of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

The number of HIV infections is however on the increase, including in Slovenia, where 726 persons were registered as HIV positive in the last 30 years. HIV incidence is meanwhile below one person per 1,000 inhabitants, according to Slovenia's National Public Health Institute (NIJZ).

In the last ten years, a total of 112 persons have got infected with HIV, with 23 of them dying.

Irena Klavs of NIJZ has told the STA that up until 23 November the institute has registered a total of 43 new cases of HIV infection, as well as nine new AIDS cases and two deaths.

Out of the 36 men who were newly diagnosed with AIDS, 25 were related to men who have sexual intercourses with other men, according to Klavs.

While men who have sex with men remain the group with high HIV infection risk, the institute has also warned about an increasing number of infections as a consequence of heterosexual transfers from East European countries.

Testing for HIV is free of charge in Slovenia, with anonymous testing being available at the Ljubljana Clinic for Infectious Diseases every Monday between noon and 3 PM.