PETALING JAYA: Malaysia falls under the second level of a three-tier HIV/AIDS epidemic scale - Generalised Epidemic; Concentrated Epidemic and Low Level Epidemic.

An epidemic is considered "concentrated" when less than 1% of the general population but more than 5% of any "high risk" group are HIV-positive. A generalised epidemic occurs when the disease is not contained within any section of the population.

An epidemic is considered "generalised" when more than 1% cent of the general population carries the virus. A low level epidemic occurs when it only a small percentage  of the population is affected.

Malaysian AIDS Council acting president Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the high risk group here includes drug addicts and those who are in heterosexual relationships. Adeeba said the HIV/AIDS categories are part of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines adopted by Malaysia.

"It must be understood that there is a possibility we might end up in the Generalised Epidemic category," she said.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government will go ahead with the needle and condom exchange programme for drug addicts, as the HIV/AIDS situation is an emergency.

Asked to comment, Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Lee Kah Choon replied: "Would 55,000 HIV/AIDS cases out of a population of 25 million amount to an epidemic?"

Lee said he does not think the situation in the country has reached epidemic proportions.