Shaanxi province had 3,094 HIV and AIDS cases since 1992 up to now, with a rapid increase of infections via sexual contacts in the first 10 months of the year, the Shaanxi Provincial Health Department told China Daily on Friday.

According to Xi Hong, deputy director of the health department, among the 3,094 patients, 77.7 percent were infected via sexual contacts, 11.1 percent by activities related to illegal drugs, 7 percent by blood transfusions?- out of which?one percent were babies infected by their mothers?- and 3.2 percent via unknown ways.

In the first 10 months of the year, 952 people were reported to be infected with the disease, and 133 died.

Shaanxi reported the first HIV case in 1992. Among the total, 1,123 people were AIDS patients and 527 died.