New Delhi: India could become the first country in the world to develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) vaccine, on which pre-clinical tests would begin soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sushma Swaraj told Rajya Sabha today (Dec 15, 2003).

"We are about to start pre-clinical tests. India could become the first country to develop an AIDS vaccine," she said.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Swaraj said there were 57,781 AIDS cases besides an estimated 4.58 million Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the country.

It generally takes seven to eight years for an HIV positive patient to develop full blown AIDS, she said.

The Minister said it has now been decided to provide anti-retro viral drug therapy to HIV positive pregnant mothers in Government hospitals to ensure that the disease did not spread to the newly born child.

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Nagaland, Manipur, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were regarded as high- risk states for HIV disease, she said.

To remove the stigma attached to AIDS disease, the Centre has instructed Government hospitals not to reject any such cases.

Besides, she said, celebrities were being shown with the AIDS patients to remove the fear about spread of the disease through mere contact.

The Minister said even she photographed herself with two children infected with AIDS as part of this campaign.

PTI