One quarter of all newly registered cases of HIV/AIDS infections in Bulgaria over the past several years were under 25 years old, Tonka Vurleva, national coordinator of the campaign against AIDS, said.

In 2007, health authorities registered three HIV infected patients, aged 18, Vurleva said as quoted by Focus news agency. All three were from the high risk group of intravenous drug-addicts.

The number of HIV positive people registered in Bulgaria between January and August 2007 was 59, increasing the total number of HIV positive Bulgarians to 748.

Vurleva’s comments were made at the opening of a regional centre for investigation and peer education in Sofia, initiated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The programme for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Bulgaria and Health Ministry supported the project and the Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria provided funding.

The centre would serve Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Arab world. The fact that it was established in Bulgaria was sign of appreciation of the work of local health authorities, Vurleva said.