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Forty-three persons were positive in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody tests in the first quarter of 2002, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 798, the Department of Health (DH) announced today (May 16).
Ten new AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases were reported in the same quarter. This brings to a total of 570 confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985.
The Senior Medical Officer (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Low Hon-kei said,"HIV is spread through the main routes of sex (homosexual or heterosexual contact), needle-sharing in injection drug users and from infected mothers to their babies.
"Of the 43 new HIV cases reported, 23 acquired the infection via heterosexual contacts and seven via homosexual or bisexual contacts. Two cases involved injection drug users."
"The route of transmission of the remaining 11 cases were undetermined due to inadequate data."
The 43 cases comprised 34 males and nine females, representing a ratio of 3.8 to 1.
Dr Low said,"Of the 1 798 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around eighty per cent of all have acquired the infection through sexual contact, with about two-third of them through heterosexual transmission and forty-six infections have occurred among injection drug users.
"The ten new AIDS cases involved eight males and two females. Nine of them got the infection through sexual contacts."
"In this quarter, the most common presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, closely followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection."
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 Low 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 Hompage 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, May 16, 2002
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