On 26th January, a Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare committee released figures showing that the number of new HIV infections or people showing AIDS symptoms rose by 138 from 2003 to 1,134 in 2004. This is the first time that number of new carriers and new AIDS patients has exceeded 1,000 in a year since the first AIDS case in Japan was confirmed in 1985.

Excluding those infected by through blood products, the total number of HIV carriers and AIDS patients was 9,784 in 2004. The committee chairman pointed out, however, that actual infection rates could be higher due to low detection rates among heterosexuals and urged people to take an AIDS test, and for the government to educate about AIDS prevention and make AIDS tests more convenient.