Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the third biggest cause of death among Panamanians aged between 15 and 24, said an official report published on Sunday.

In 2005, there were more than 25,000 cases of Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) in Panama, a massive figure for a country with a population of only 3.1 million, according to the report issued by The National HIV Program, a research project initiated by the Health Ministry.

Program coordinator Emilio Messina said the disease was the biggest cause of death for Panamanians between 25 and 44 after heart attacks and cancer.

Statistics show that since AIDS was first reported in 1984 in Panama, it has killed 7,485 people.

Panama has undertaken an aggressive campaign to prevent the disease from spreading, which includes distributing pamphlets in schools and universities.

As part of the campaign, the Health Ministry had also created a network of civil society groups in those parts of the country with high occurrences, Messina said.

AIDS has been spreading not only because of ignorance and promiscuity among young Panamanians, but also due to the fact that individuals developing symptoms of the disease do not take AIDS tests, he said.

According to a study of the Health Ministry, Panamanians begin sexual activity at an average age of 14. Around two-thirds of HIV carriers catch AIDS from unprotected sex.

Source: Xinhua