In China, the number of AIDS orphans who are under 15 years old and at least lost one of their parents amounts to 76,000 at present. With the increase of HIV carriers in China, the number of children affected by AIDS will be on the rise.

Such information is learned from the summit named "Care for the Children Affected by AIDS" held in China on July 20th.

At present, HIV transmission is accelerated and most carriers are at the age to be parents, which signifies that more and more children will be affected by AIDS. It is predicted that by 2010, the number of AIDS orphans without one of their parents at least will jump to 260,000.

AIDS orphans refer to those children who are healthy themselves but one or both of their parents have died of AIDS. The children affected by AIDS also include those who are HIV positive and soon-to-be AIDS orphans.

(China News Service July 22, 2005)