East China's metropolis Shanghai is now stressing for safe sex to prevent the number of HIV cases from rising, Monday's China Daily reported.

　　The effort was made urgent when officials reported the largest-ever increase in the number of HIV patients in the financial hub.

　　Statistics show that 135 HIV cases have been identified so far this year, increased by 45.16 percent compared with last year.

　　So far, 528 HIV positive have been identified since the city detected the first HIV case in 1987.

　　The first AIDS patient was identified in 1995. So far, 34 of the 98 confirmed AIDS patients in the city have died.

　　Officials said that men have contracted the disease at a higherrate than women. However, 90 percent of the HIV patients could avoid infection if informed of how the disease is transmitted.

　　Shanghai has launched a project to prevent and control AIDS over the next 15 years to keep the infected number under 20,000.

　　Meanwhile, the municipal government vows to provide more financial support and prevent discrimination against patients in society.