BEIJING, Jan. 23 -- The Dongguan city health authority in Guangdong province has denied online rumors that 2,740 women employed in local karaoke bars have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Wednesday. "The online reports are false," said a statement from the bureau on its official website.

Dongguan detected its first AIDS patient in 1991. By the end of 2013, 2,032 persons had been diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV in the Pearl River delta city.

Of those, 424 are women, the statement said.

To prevent AIDS from spreading in the city, Dongguan, which is celebrated for its entertainment industry, has set up special working groups to promote anti-AIDS awareness at karaoke bars and other entertainment venues since 2007.

Employees at local bars and entertainment venues have also been urged to have health checkups regularly, the statement said.

According to online rumors, 2,740 women working in local karaoke bars have been diagnosed as AIDS patients or HIV carriers. The rumors said more than 1,600 of those were in the city's Houjie township.