A survey of students at South African universities has shown the number of cases of HIV is much lower than the national average.
More than 23,000 students from 21 institutions across the country were questioned in the HEAids survey.
Only Unisa and Tshwane University of Technology did not take part.
The report found the HIV rate among students was 3.4%, while it was just 1.5% among academic staff.
The rate was higher for administrative staff, at 4.4%, and among service staff the figure rose to 10%.
But the HEAids report warned the low rate in students may not last, as many engage in risky sexual activity.
Blade Nzimande, South Africa's minister of higher education, said students should not be taking risks which could affect their health in a serious way.
He referred to the UNAids report which predicted in 2008 that 33.4 million people worldwide live with HIV. It represents a 20% jump from 2000, and is three times as many compared with 1990 figures.
The research into the HIV rate at South African universities was part of a government initiative to get as many people to be tested for HIV in the next 12 months.
South Africa was reported to be home to the world's largest population of people living with HIV - about 5.7 million.
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