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Seventy people tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody in the second quarter of 2005, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 16). This brings the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 2,647.
Twenty new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported in the same quarter, bringing to 743 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. The department said 65% of the new cases were related to heterosexual contact.
The Senior Medical Officer of the DH's Special Preventive Programme, Dr Raymond Ho said today that HIV was spread through sexual contact (homosexual or heterosexual), contact of contaminated blood/blood products (including needle-sharing among drug users) and from infected mothers to their babies.
Of the 70 new HIV cases reported, 28 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 20 via homosexual or bisexual contact, three through intravenous drug use and one case through transfusion of blood/blood product (non-local).
The routes of transmission of the remaining 18 cases were undetermined due to inadequate data.
The 70 cases comprised 48 males and 22 females.
In this quarter, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is the commonest AIDS defining illness.
Of the 2,647 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 78% acquired infection through sexual contact. Of them, 69% resulted from heterosexual transmission and 95 infections occurred among injection drug users.
The newly diagnosed cases for this quarter were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (33), private hospitals and clinics (8), Social Hygiene Clinics (10) and the DH?s AIDS Counselling Service (11). Cumulatively, the four sources have accounted for 44.1%, 21.8%, 15.3% and 13.2% of all reported infections.
Of the newly reported cases in this quarter, 50 (71.4%) have received care at the DH's HIV Specialist Services or the Hospital Authority.
Seventy-one per cent of the reported cases in the first half of 2005 have attended these services where effective antiretroviral treatment is offered according to clinical indication.
The department monitors the HIV/AIDS situation through a voluntary reporting system. The first cases of HIV and AIDS were reported in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
Physicians are strongly encouraged to report cases of HIV infection and AIDS through the the department's AIDS website (http://www.aids.gov.hk/report.htm). Comprehensive epidemiological data is crucial for surveillance of HIV infection and to formulate effective prevention strategy.
Dr Ho said people could request free, anonymous and confidential HIV counselling by calling AIDS Hotline (2780 2211). HIV antibody testing may also be arranged as appropriate through this hotline.
Information on AIDS and data on HIV/AIDS, which are released on a quarterly basis, can be viewed on the DH's AIDS webpage http://www.aids.gov.hk.
HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, half of the HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years.
Ends/Tuesday, August 16, 2005
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