Rotavirus strains not covered by licensed vaccines are increasing.

Injecting drug users (IDU) in Bangladesh are at the early stages of an HIV epidemic. To understand the dynamics of the HIV epidemic, male IDU (n = 561) were recruited from the needle/syringe exchange program in Dhaka in 2002, who underwent a risk-behavior survey and were tested for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. Correlates of HIV infection were determined by conducting bivariate and multiple regression analyses. The median age of the IDU was 35 years, 39.6% had no formal education, approximately half were married and/or living with their regular sex partner and 26% were currently homeless. The median age at first injection was 29 years. HIV was detected in 5.9% of the IDU and homelessness was the only factor independently associated with HIV (OR = 5.5). Urgent measures must be undertaken to prevent escalation of the HIV epidemic. The study's limitations are noted.

Injecting drug users (IDU) were enrolled from two detoxification clinics and two needle/syringe exchange programmes (NEP) in central and northwest Bangladesh. Syphilis, hepatitis C and HIV rates were highest in IDU from the NEP of central Bangladesh (23, 66.5 and 1.4%, respectively), whereas current hepatitis B infection rates were highest in IDU from the NEP of northwest Bangladesh (12%). Five HIV strains were subtype C and one E/B. The 32 base pair (bp) deletion of the CCR5 gene was not detected.

Background: Very little is known about female injecting drug users (IDU) in Bangladesh but anecdotal evidence suggests that they are hidden and very vulnerable to HIV through both their injection sharing and sexual risk behaviors. In order to better understand the risks and vulnerability to HIV of female IDU, a cohort study was initiated through which HIV prevalence and risk behaviors was determined.

No abstract