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    A total of 268 HIV cases were reported to the Department of Health last year, the highest annual number ever recorded.

    The figure showed a 17% increase compared with 229 in the preceding year.

    Reviewing the AIDS situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (February 22), the department's Consultant (Special Preventive Programme), Dr SS Lee said sexual transmission continued to be the major mode of HIV spread in Hong Kong, accounting for 64% (172 cases) of the newly reported HIV cases.

    Of these cases, 107 involved heterosexual transmission and 65 occurred between men having sex with men.

    "Under the voluntary reporting system, some 28% of the reports were incomplete, making the determination of the route of infection impossible," Dr Lee said.

    He noted that HIV infection contracted through injection drug use had increased to 21 (7.8%) in 2004, from 10 (3.8%) in 2002 and 11 (4.8%) in 2003. The increase in the past two years was in line with the increase in number of HIV tests performed in methadone clinics.

    He said that in January 2004, a universal HIV testing programme was rolled out to all methadone clinics after its pilot in the year before.

    "In the first year of the programme, 8,905 methadone attendees were tested for HIV, covering 90% of the total attendees, " Dr Lee said.

    "Eighteen (0.2%) tested positive. This was in contrast to the years prior to the programme, when only 318 and 148 HIV tests were performed in methadone clinics in 2002 and 2003 respectively and none were found to be positive," he added.

    Referring to mother-to-child HIV transmission, Dr Lee said transmission of this kind was becoming a rarity since the implementation of the Universal Antenatal HIV Testing Programme in September 2001.

    "Six HIV-positive pregnant women were diagnosed under this programme in 2004. No new perinatal infections have been diagnosed since the introduction of the programme," he said.

    In 2004, the number of AIDS reports dropped from 56 in 2003 to 49, the lowest recorded since 1996 (70 cases) when the use of effective treatment HAART (highly active antiretroviral treatment) started later that year.

    "It is estimated that over 3,000 persons are living with HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong. The high HIV rates in neighbouring cities, extensive human mobility across borders, and the practice of risk behaviour are some of the factors that may predispose Hong Kong to an upsurge of the epidemic," Dr Lee said.

    He called on members of the public to take precautions by practising safe sex and avoiding drug injecting. Regular use of methadone is an effective means of harm reduction in drug users.

    "In case of concern about possible infection, the AIDS Hotline 2780 2211 is a convenient source of information and access to HIV tests," he added.

Ends/Tuesday, February 22, 2005

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