Since the end of the soviet era, there has been a dramatic rise in deaths from tuberculosis and an increase in cases of drug resistant strains. TB is particularly widespread amongst prison inmates. HIV/AIDS has also spread mainly through the growth of intravenous drug use and the young are most at risk.

However, Russia is making progress in trying to break free from TB and HIV. Thanks to initiatives such as HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Saint Petersburg and early detection and treatment of TB in Tomsk, the capital city of Siberia, the number of TB infected patients is down and awareness of AIDS is starting to make a difference.

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