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The Department of Health (DH) announced today (February 7) that 213 persons were found positive in HIV antibody tests in 2001, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 755.

Sixty AIDS cases were reported the same year, bringing to 560 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases.

The Senior Medical Officer (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Ho King-man said: "Of the 213 cases of HIV infections reported in 2001, 124 cases acquired the infection via heterosexual exposure and 43 cases via homosexual or bisexual contacts. Two other cases acquired the infections perinatally and 11 other cases involved injecting drug users.

"The route of transmission of the remaining 33 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information."

The 213 cases comprised 158 male patients and 55 female patients, representing a male-to-female ratio of 2.9 to 1.

Dr Ho said that 60 AIDS cases involved 48 male patients and 12 female patients. Around eighty per cent of them were related to heterosexual contact.

The most common presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystic carinii Pneumonia followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

On September 1, 2001, an Universal Antenatal HIV Screening Programme was jointly implemented by DH and the Hospital Authority. The main objective of the programme is to prevent mother to child HIV transmission.

Dr Ho said: "A total of 10 238 tests were performed in the first three months of the programme (September 1 to November 30) and six expectant mothers were detected positive to the test.

"All the HIV infected expectant mothers and their families have been provided medical care and support in the public service."

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

Dr Ho said: "Members of the public can request for free, anonymous and confidental HIV counselling by calling DH's Hotline (2780 2211). HIV antibody testing may also be arranged as appropriately through this hotline.

Data on HIV/AIDS are released on a quarterly basis and can be viewed on DH's Homepage on AIDS. Other information can also be accessed from the Homepage. The address is http://www.aids.gov.hk

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, February 7, 2002

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