According to the Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS), the number of people infected with HIV has reached 55,167.

While addressing media, Health Secretary Manoj Joshi stated that as of October last year, around 11,024 HIV positive people had registered with the Anti Retroviral Therapy centres lead by KSACS.

"Of these 4,016 people are undergoing the ART treatment and 950 people have passed away. HIV prevalence rate in the general population is 0.26 percent, which is less than the national average of 0.34 percent," said Mr. Joshi.

He said this while declaring the onset of the Red Ribbon Express in Kerala Feb 23.

It would visit different regions of the state till March 12.

As of June 2009, Palakkad region had the maximum number of HIV victims (1,650) accompanied by Trissur (1,449) and Thiruvananthapuram (1,267) whereas Wayanad had the least number of cases (142). (With Input from Agencies)