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Sixty-five persons were positive in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody tests in the second quarter of 2002, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 863, the Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 22).
Fifteen new AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases were reported in the same quarter. This brings to a total of 585 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 among injection drug users and from infected mothers to their babies.
"Of the 65 new HIV cases reported, 39 acquired the infection via heterosexual contacts and twelve via homosexual or bisexual contacts. Two cases involved injection drug users."
"The route of transmission of the remaining 12 cases were undetermined due to inadequate data."
The 65 cases comprised 55 males and ten females, representing a ratio of 5.5 to 1 .
Dr Low said,"Of the 1 863 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around eighty-one per cent of all have acquired the infection through sexual contact, with about seventy-one per cent of them through heterosexual transmission. Forty-eight infections have occurred among injection drug users.
"The 15 new AIDS cases involved 11 males and four females. All of these cases were related to sexual contacts."
"In the second quarter, the most common presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection."
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 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, August 22, 2002
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