Warsaw - AIDS sufferers in Poland face discrimination, while Poles' knowledge of the disease is "still scandalously low," officials said Monday - World AIDS Day.

"Carrying HIV in Poland is still connected with shame," Polish Radio quoted Janusz Majchrzak of the Plus Network, which helps AIDS patients, as saying.

"We live in the 21st century, but Poles' knowledge of AIDS and HIV is still scandalously low."

According to research, many Poles think the disease effects only drug addicts and homosexuals, the daily Dziennik reported.

Every third Pole thinks it is possible to get HIV from a toilet seat, while 60 per cent admit they have had sex without protection.

"Poles with HIV are afraid of their neighbours," the daily reported. Children with AIDS can be turned away from schools.

Poland had reported some 10,000 HIV cases in 2006, according to the World Health Organization. The country had a more severe epidemic than most of Central Europe, the organization said, because of injecting drug use. (dpa)