中国网站品牌栏目（频道）
The number of HIV positive people in China probably stands at around 740,000, up from the estimated 700,000 who had the virus in 2007, the country's health minister said yesterday.
Chen Zhu said sex between men is now one of the main reasons for the spread of the disease.
As of Oct 31, China had recorded 319,877 HIV infections, 102,323 of which had developed into AIDS. China has had 49,845 AIDS deaths since it detected its first HIV infection in 1985, Chen told the 5th Conference of International Cooperation Programmes on HIV/AIDS in China.
He added experts predict there will be 48,000 new infections in 2009, compared to 50,000 in 2007.
Of the new infections, sexual transmissions will account for more than 70 percent of cases. Some 42.2 percent will come from heterosexual transmission. The number was 44.7 percent in 2007.
Chen told the conference there had been a dramatic increase in the number of HIV infections resulting from homosexual encounters. Those infections now account for 32.5 percent of transmissions. They only accounted for 12.2 percent in 2007.
China's gay population is estimated to be 5-10 million.
Chen added: "At present, the number of infections keeps rising in the nation, but at a slower rate, compared to previous years, however, sexual transmission is now the primary means of infection, especially among men having sex with men.”
Questions:
1. What is the current estimated figure for the number of HIV positive people?
2. As Oct 31, what is the recorded number of HIV infections?
3. What percentage is caused by sexual transmission?
Answers:
1. 740,000.
2. 319,877.
3. 70 per cent.
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
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