Health departments in Japan are reporting a record high number of HIV cases, IPS News reports. The Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry reported 1,075 new HIV cases in 2010, an increase of 54 from 2009. Advocates in Japan said the rise is due to a complete absence of awareness programs and a high prevalence of social discrimination, which keeps individuals from seeking out and using condoms or getting tested. Voluntary testing in Japan dropped to 130,000 in 2010 from 150,000 in 2009, despite being free. Condom use has decreased to 200 million annually, less than a third of the 700 million recorded a decade ago. Advocates are calling for government intervention.

To read the IPS article, click here.