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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 29), revealed that 90 people were tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody in the second quarter of 2006.
This brought the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,004.
Twenty-five new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported in the same quarter, bringing to 824 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Forty-four per cent of the new cases were related to heterosexual contact.
Reviewing the AIDS situation in Hong Kong at a press conference, the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Wong Ka-hing said the predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter was still sexual contact.
"Of the 90 new HIV cases reported, 22 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 26 via homosexual or bisexual contact and 13 via injection of drug."
The routes of transmission of the remaining 29 cases were undetermined due to insufficient data.
The 90 cases comprised 71 males and 19 females.
In this quarter, the most commonly presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystic Pneumonia, a kind of chest infection, which was closely followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Of the 3,004 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 76% acquired infection through sexual contact. Of them, 67% were resulted from heterosexual transmission and 140 infections occurred among injection drug users.
The newly diagnosed cases of this quarter were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (45), private hospitals and clinics (17), Social Hygiene Clinics (14) and the DH's AIDS Counselling Service (9).
Cumulatively, the four sources have accounted for 45.1%, 21.6%, 14.6% and 12.7% of all reported infections.
Of the newly reported cases in this quarter, 66(73.3%) received care at the HIV specialist services of the Department of Health or the Hospital Authority.
Seventy-six per cent of the reported cases in 2005 attended these services where effective antiretroviral treatment was offered according to clinical indication.
The Department of Health monitors the HIV/AIDS situation through a voluntary reporting system. The first cases of HIV and AIDS were reported in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
Dr Wong 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 DH's AIDS Unit web page 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 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:46
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