Gay transmission of AIDS gaining pace

China warned in a notice for yesterday's World AIDS Day that homosexual transmission of the disease was gaining pace and called for health authorities nationwide to step up prevention work.

The statement by the health ministry came a day after President Hu Jintao called on the nation not to discriminate against those with HIV.

"Sexual contact continues to be the main channel of transmission with the speed of homosexual transmission clearly increasing," the health ministry said. "This is a new situation that we need to pay attention to."