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The Department of Health (DH) announced today (Tuesday) that 213 persons were found positive in HIV antibody tests in 1999, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 359.

Sixty-one AIDS cases were reported the same year, bringing to 433 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases.

The Senior Medical Officer (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Chan Ching-nin said: "Of the 1 359 HIV infections reported, 1 112 were acquired through sexual contacts, including 762 heterosexual contacts.

"Twenty-three other infections had occurred among injecting drug users. Ten babies were infected through mother-to-infant transmission.

"For the remaining 146 cases, the information available was inadequate for classification.

"There were 1 138 male and 221 female in the HIV cases reported."

For the 433 confirmed AIDS cases, the number of male cases were 386 and female cases 47.

Dr Chan said that the number of HIV infections and AIDS cases reported in 1998 were 189 and 63 respectively.

DH monitors the HIV/AIDS situation through a voluntary reporting system. The first cases of the HIV and AIDS were reported in 1984 and 1985 respectively.

Dr Chan said: "Members of the public can request for free, anonymous and confidential HIV tests by calling DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211)."

Reported data on HIV/AIDS are released on a quarterly basis and can be viewed on DH's Homepage on AIDS. The website address is http://www.info.gov.hk/aids

End/Tuesday, February 1, 2000

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