In the first half of this year there were recorded 417 new cases of HIV/AIDS, including 156 cases on the eastern side of the Nistru, and according to the National Public Health Center, the situation becomes increasingly alarming with every year passing, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Public Health Center announces that of the 417 recorded cases, 180 were AIDS diagnoses, and the primary way HIV was passed was through unprotected sex. At the same time, the incidence of new cases in the age group 15-24 years decreased compared to the previous years, which is attributed to intensive awareness raising efforts among the youth. In the first half of this year, 19 HIV/AIDS projects were ongoing among the high-risk groups, including injection drug users in 22 settlements, inmates in 12 prisons, migrants, women in the sex industry, and LGBT community members. In this period, two Regional Community Centers were inaugurated in Balti and Tiraspol for the persons living with HIV/AIDS. In the same period last year, there were recorded 375 new diagnoses, including 114 in the Transnistrian region.