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A total of 313 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases were reported to the Department of Health in 2005, the highest annual number ever recorded.
The figure was a 17% increase on the 268 cases in 2004.
Reviewing the AIDS situation in Hong Kong, the Senior Medical Officer (Special Preventive Programme) of the department, Dr Raymond Ho, said at a press conference today (February 14) that sexual transmission continued to be the major mode of HIV spread in Hong Kong.
The cases, included 105 reports (33.5%) involving heterosexual exposure, 96 (30.7%) of homosexual or bisexual contact, 25 (8%) of injection drug use, 4 (1.3%) of blood/blood product infusion and 2 (0.6%) of perinatal infection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 81 (25.9%) cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
In the fourth quarter of 2005, 87 people tested positive for HIV antibody, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 2,825 since 1984.
Of the 87 new HIV cases reported, 24 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 19 via homosexual or bisexual contact and 12 cases of injected drug use.
The routes of transmission of the remaining 32 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 87 cases comprised 77 males and 10 females.
Twenty-two new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported
in the fourth quarter of 2005, bringing to 782 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Sixty-four per cent of the new AIDS cases were related to heterosexual contact.
In this quarter, the most common AIDS defining illness was Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB), and was closely followed by Pneumocystic Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection.
Of the 2,825 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 77% were acquired through sexual contact and 4% through injected drug use. Sixty-eight per cent of the sexually transmitted infections are from heterosexual transmission.
The newly diagnosed cases between October and December, 2005, were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (54), private hospitals and clinics (12), Social Hygiene Clinics (7) and the Department of Health AIDS Counselling Service (4).
Cumulatively, the four sources have accounted for 44.7%, 21.6%, 14.8% and 12.9% of all reported infections respectively.
Of the newly reported cases in this quarter, 62 (71.3%) have received care at the department's HIV Specialist Services or the Hospital Authority.
Seventy-four per cent of the reported cases in 2005 attended these services where effective antiretroviral treatment was offered according to clinical indication.
The department monitors the HIV/AIDS situation through a voluntary reporting system. The first cases of HIV was reported in 1984 and the first case of AIDS in 1985.
Dr Ho said people could request free, anonymous and confidential HIV counselling by calling the 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 department's AIDS webpage http://www.aids.gov.hk.
HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, half of those infected with HIV will progress to AIDS within 10 years.
Ends/Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:07
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