The number of confirmed HIV positive cases in Indian-controlled Kashmir is 2,649, health officials said here on Wednesday.

The figures available with region's AIDS Prevention and Control Society reveal a surge in HIV positive cases.

"Number of confirmed HIV positive cases in the region as of today is 2,649. Last year the number of such patients was 2,222," said Risheesh Khajuria, Assistant Director State AIDS Prevention and Control Society (SAPCS).

"There are 1,076 full blown AIDS cases in the region and 185 deaths because of AIDS have been recorded so far,"Khajuria said.

Though the number is less compared to prevalent scenario world over but experts are stress on the awareness campaign to bring the numbers down.

"HIV or AIDS is one of the most challenging public health problems, which has social, economical and developmental dimensions," said region's Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma in his message.

The Health department in Indian-controlled Kashmir in 2002 set up State AIDS Prevention and Control Society to tackle the diseases. The society has set up detection centers across the region in government-run hospitals where patients are screened for this particular disease.