Press Releases 2009

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A total of 123 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported in the third quarter of 2009 to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 4 372 since 1984.

Reviewing the AIDS situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (December 1), Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing said that sexual transmission had continued to be the major mode of HIV spread in Hong Kong.

Dr Wong stressed the importance of using condom and the practice of safer sex in reducing the risk of HIV infection.

“HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, half of the HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years.

“People who had a history of unprotected sex should call the DH's AIDS Hotline at 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test,” Dr Wong said.

Of the 123 HIV cases reported in the third quarter of 2009, 28 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 46 via homosexual or bisexual contact, and 2 through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 47 cases were yet undetermined due to inadequate information.

The 123 cases comprised 91 males and 32 females.

The newly diagnosed cases of this quarter were mainly reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (58 cases), private hospitals and clinics (33 cases), the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (13 cases) and the DH's AIDS unit (11 cases).

Fifteen new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported in the third quarter of 2009, bringing to 1 086 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Seventy-three per cent of the new AIDS cases were related to heterosexual contact.

In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Members of the public can obtain a wide range of HIV/AIDS related information from the AIDS website (http://www.aids.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2009