SEVEN people living with HIV-AIDS in the Northern Division have disappeared, sparking concern within the Health Ministry.
Northern HIV/AIDS coordinator Doctor Pablo Romanik said the seven had moved from their original addresses and their whereabouts were unknown.
"It's a concern as we don't know where these people are - we're worried that they might spread the disease," Dr Romanik said.
"We've contacted their families and relatives at the original addresses but they too don't know exactly where these people are because they keep moving from place to place."
Dr Romanik said the seven could have moved to Viti Levu.
"These cases were part of our follow-up and counselling program but this year, they just moved to another place without informing us of any new addresses.
"We have consulted our branches nationwide in case these people are identified in other areas."
There are 34 confirmed cases of HIV-AIDS in the division with six reported this year.
Dr Romanik said three cases had been confirmed while another three would undergo second tests.
He said many people had not changed their attitude towards people living with the disease.
"We hear all kinds of comments and sometimes it hurts to hear villagers suggest that people living with the disease should be put on an isolated island.
"Even the church talatala suggests this at times. We wonder why God loves sinners so much yet human beings can't."
Dr Romanik said they've had cases of people living with the disease being thrown out of their houses and threatened by their own brothers, sisters and parents.
"It's a great challenge and is not easy handling the situation.
"These people need support and I'm urging the community to show them love - don't discriminate against them."
Meanwhile reports show the number of new HIV cases in 2003 to 2006 was 2.5 times greater than the number reported in 1999 to 2000.
This was revealed in a 2009 AIDS epidemic update report released by UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation.
UNAIDS Pacific coordinator Stuart Watson said Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Guam accounted for the vast majority of HIV infections in the region outside of PNG.
"While most epidemics in the region appear to be stable, new infections in Papua New Guinea are on the rise," he said.
"HIV infections are also increasing in Fiji."
Mr Watson said heterosexual transmission accounted for 95 per cent of HIV infections in PNG and 88 per cent in Fiji.
He said there was generally a low HIV prevalence in Oceania compared with other regions.
"An estimated 59,000 people were living with HIV in Oceania in 2008 of which 3900 were new infections," he said.
