By Vir B. Lumicao
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| People who practise unsafe sex are urged to take the HIV test for free at govt clinics |
The pandemic has failed to curb the number of people
contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or full-blown AIDS (Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome) in
The trend is reflected even among Filipinos who contracted the deadly disease.
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Six new HIV cases involving Filipinos were recorded in
Three more cases of Filipinos with AIDS were added to the lone case recorded in the first quarter, for a total of four from January to June this year.
But the Filipino numbers were just a drop in the bucket
compared with the overall figure for
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The total number of new HIV cases in the city went up to 232 in the second half of the year, when 131 additional infections were recorded in the second quarter, up from 101 in the first quarter.
AIDS cases totaled 50 for the first six months, after 26 new infections were added to the 24 listed for January to March.
A statement from the Department of Health said sexual contact is still the most common mode of transmitting HIV.
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“Sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission. Members of the public should use condoms consistently and properly so as to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV,” said the DH statement.
According to DH staff, the latest Filipino HIV cases involved two men and four women. All the women and one man got infected through heterosexual sex. The other man acquired the virus from homosexual sex.
Also during the second quarter, two Filipino women and one man were found to have acquired full-blown AIDS from heterosexual contact.
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In the first quarter, the HIV- infected patients involved two men and a woman. The lone AIDS patient was a woman. Three of them acquired the virus from heterosexual sex, while one man did not provide enough information about the possible transmission route.
But overall, homosexual or bisexual contact emerged as the
major transmission route for HIV in
Of the new cases recorded involving 109 men and 22 women, 75 were found to have been infected through this route, 33 via heterosexual sex, and two via drug injection.
The remaining 21 cases’ transmission routes have yet to be determined due to incomplete information at reporting, the DH said.
As for the 26 new AIDS cases, 14 were contracted through homosexual or bisexual contact, 11 from heterosexual contact, and one through needle sharing.
The new cases were mainly reported by three major sources:
- Public hospitals, clinics and laboratories, which reported 57 cases;
- Private hospitals, clinics and laboratories, which found 22 cases; and
- The DH’s Social Hygiene Clinics, which accounted for 19 cases.
The new cases took
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| Govt graph shows HIV infections peaked in 2015 |
People with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early, the DH said. They can call the AIDS Hotline, 2780 2211, to arrange a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test. HIV-positive people should seek specialist care as soon as possible, the DH said.
The public may visit the following pages for more information: the DH’s Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com) and the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk).
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