Andrea Downer, Features Writer

Last year, 27,000 persons in the Caribbean contracted HIV. This was revealed yesterday by Dr. Jacqueline Duncan, co-principal investigator at the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit at The Comprehensive Clinic on Slipe Road, Kingston, during the unit's observation of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.

Chief of Epidemiology and AIDS, Dr. Peter Figueroa, said the number of new HIV infections in Jamaica for last year is not yet known. However, he said the regional figure underscores the urgent need to develop a safe and effective vaccine to halt the epidemic.

The Ministry of Health estimates that 25,000 people living in Jamaica are HIV-positive and more than half of that number are not aware of their status.

According to Dr. Figueroa, Jamaica's vaccine trials, aimed at developing a vaccine to prevent people from contracting the HIV virus, two of which began in August last year, have been very successful. He revealed that recruiting of volunteers is now ongoing for a third HIV vaccine trial, which should begin this year.