For the following three years HIV infection was sporadically reported in a small numbers of individuals who were either foreigners or overseas Chinese. From 1990 to 1993 there were fewer than 500 new cases of HIV reported each year. Rapid spread of HIV began in 1995 and has continued with an estimated cumulative number of HIV infections of 300,000. However, many investigators feel that the number may be closer to 500,000. HIV has now been reported from every province in China.
Young adults account for the majority of infections.
The number of individuals with syphilis remained at a very low level up to 1980. Thereafter, syphilis and other STDs began to increase rapidly. The 1989 Infectious Disease Control Law requires that individuals with STDs, including those who have AIDS, must be reported by name. However, the law does not specify HIV reporting. Anonymous STD treatment was initiated in Shanghai in 1995.