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A total of 125 cases of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - the cause of AIDS) infections - were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in the third quarter of 2007, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,525.
The figure was revealed by the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing, during a press conference today (November 28).
He said that 24 new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported in the same quarter, bringing to 917 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985.
Dr Wong stressed the importance of using condoms and the practice of safer sex in reducing the risk of HIV infection. HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, half of the HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years.
He also called on people with a history of unprotected sex to go for an HIV test.
"They can call the department's AIDS Hotline on 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test," he said.
Reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, Dr Wong said the predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter was still sexual contact.
Of the 125 new HIV cases reported, 22 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 52 via homosexual or bisexual contact, 12 via injection of drug and one case of perinatal transmission. The routes of transmission of the remaining 38 cases were undetermined due to insufficient data.
The 125 cases comprised 101 males and 24 females.
The newly diagnosed cases of this quarter were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (45 cases), private hospitals and clinics (44 cases), Social Hygiene Clinics (13 cases) and the department's AIDS Counselling and Testing Service (nine cases).
Of the newly reported cases in this quarter, 82 (65.6%) of the patients received care at the HIV specialist services of the Department of Health or the Hospital Authority.
In this quarter, the most common AIDS defining illness was Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB) which was closely followed by Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection.
People can obtain a wide range of HIV/AIDS related information from the AIDS website (http://www.aids gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:01
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