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The new Buffalo City district has recorded the highest HIV prevalence of 34.1% in the Eastern Cape.
That's according to Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who released the national antenatal HIV and Syphillis prevalence survey data for 2011.
According to the report the Eastern Cape has an HIV prevalence rate of 16.02 per the provincial population aged between 15 and 49.
Motsoaledi says the Western Cape has an HIV prevalence rate of 4.75 per the population while the national HIV prevalence rate of 29.5 percent in 2011 was in line with what has been observed in the previous four years.
He says to avoid a resurgence of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa, HIV prevention efforts need to be strengthened and sustained urgently.
The Health Ministry said the "2011 report has shown beyond reasonable doubt that there is no significant correlation between HIV and Treponema palladium the aetiological agent for active syphilis as co-factor for HIV infection."
"In the 2012 antenatal sentinel HIV survey we will be piloting and testing for Herpes simplex and investigating whether infection is significantly correlated to increased risk of HIV infection."
