HIV second highest killer of youth – Agency office

 A survey by the South Africa National Statistics Agency, has attributed HIV as the third leading cause of deaths in South Africa in 2013, and the second highest killer of young people. The survey result released on Tuesday in Johannesburg, showed that out of the 458,933 deaths that occurred in 2013, in the country, HIV was responsible for 11 per cent of deaths in the 15 to 44 age group. It said in spite of having one of the most extensive HIV/AIDS treatment programs in the world, including rolling out free anti-retroviral drugs a decade ago, the rate of new infections in South Africa has increased. It said a recent report by the UN noted that more than six million South Africans, or 18 per cent of the population, are currently infected with the disease. It said this has left South Africa with the highest number of people living with the disease in the world.