AIDS virus, Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness disclosed yesterday.

Mr. Edness, who last week blasted criminologist Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper for speculating that up to 60 percent of Casemates' prisoners are HIV-infected, said latest statistics provided by his Ministry's medical staff showed 13 of the Island's 259 prisoners are HIV-infected and three prisoners actually have AIDS.

"On admission to the prisons all inmates are assessed by the Prisons Medical Officer,'' he said. "HIV screening is recommended based on this assessment, and is voluntary.

"Since June 1985, a total of 186 prisoners have been tested for HIV, with 58 individuals testing positive; these individuals have received ongoing follow-up and comprehensive care.'' Mrs. Cooper, in a verbal report to the criminal justice system review board, said she made the estimate based on the rate of HIV carriers outside of prisons and the percentage of inmates who are drug abusers -- "coupled with what happens inside (prisons)''.

She added that AIDS testing should be mandatory in prison.

Calling Mrs. Cooper's speculation "careless'', Mr. Edness said the Health Department and Prison Service consistently monitor prisoners' health and medical services are offered in all three of its facilities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Edness expressed concern about the increasing cases of HIV infection by heterosexuals.

Referring to AIDS statistics for the first half of the year released yesterday, he said while intravenous drug abusers are still the major high risk group (49.8 percent), the percentages of AIDS cases among drug users is declining.

But he said it was worrying that the spread of HIV-infection is increasing among heterosexuals.

Of the 205 AIDS cases reported between January and June 1992, 54 were infected through homosexual and bi-sexual transmission, and 38 contracted the virus from a heterosexual partner.

Ninety percent of the AIDS cases have occurred in the 20-to-49 age group and most, 78.5 percent, are males.

"That means there are segments, possibly young people in their twenties who are not responding to the advisories about safe sex,'' Mr. Edness said, adding Bermuda will have to look for new AIDS-prevention messages.

Mr. Edness also noted that nine of the 12 AIDS cases reported from January to June had died during the period, compared to 16 in the same six-month period last year.