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The total number of reported HIV infection cases in Hong Kong has exceeded 1 000.

The Department of Health said today (Tuesday) that in the first quarter this year, a total of 48 persons were found to be positive for the HIV antibody test, bringing the cumulative number of reported HIV infection cases to 1 005.

Thirteen AIDS cases were diagnosed in the same period leading to a total number of 322 confirmed cases.

For this quarter, the ratio of reported male to female HIV infections is 4 to 1 while that of hetero-sexually to homeo-sexually HIV infections is 5 to 1.

Of all AIDS cases reported, 149 persons had died as at the end of 1997. The number of deaths in 1995, 1996 and 1997 was 30, 23 and 21 respectively.

In Hong Kong, the first case of AIDS was reported in 1985. HIV/AIDS reporting is a voluntary system held by the Department of Health. Reported data are released on a quarterly basis and can be viewed on the Homepage of the Department's AIDS Unit. The website address is www.info.gov.hk/aids.

End/Tuesday, May 5, 1998

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