Shillong, June 18 -- Meghalaya is now ranked sixth among the highest HIV prevalence states in India, State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh said.

"There is a 221.1 per cent increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the state during the last 19 years, while Tripura has seen over 330 per cent plus.

These are alarming indicators, and this is something only a community can get together to deal with," Lyngdoh said.

On Tuesday, the Health and Family Welfare Minister chaired a high-level meeting with medical experts and officials from various departments to formulate strategies aimed at containing the spread of the virus across the state.

Moreover, she said the state is witnessing close to 982 new HIV cases annually-a figur...