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Forty-four persons were positive in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody tests in the first quarter of 2001, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 586, the Department of Health (DH) announced today (May 24).
Nine new AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases were reported in the same quarter. This brings to a total of 509 confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985.
The Senior Medical Officer (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said: "Of the 44 new HIV cases reported, 22 acquired the infection via heterosexual contacts and six via homosexual or bisexual contacts.
"Six cases involved injecting drug users. Another case was mother-to-child infection.
"The route of transmission of the remaining nine cases were undetermined due to inadequate data.
"The 44 cases involved 29 males and 15 females, representing a ratio of 1.9 to 1."
The nine new AIDS cases involved six males and three females. Seventy-eight per cent got the infection through heterosexual contacts.
In this quarter, the most common presenting AIDS defining illness is still Pneumocystic Carinii Pneumonia, followed by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis infection.
DH monitors the HIV/AIDS situation through a voluntary reporting system. The first cases of HIV and AIDS were reported in Hong Kong in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
Dr Wong said: "Members of the public can request for free, anonymous and confidential HIV tests by calling DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211)."
Data on HIV/AIDS are released on a quarterly basis and can be viewed on DH's Homepage on AIDS. The address is
HIV is the cause of AIDS and half of the HIV-infected will progress to AIDS in 10 years' time if without treatment.
End/Thursday, May 24, 2001
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