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A total of 414 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were reported to the Department of Health (DH) last year (2007), the highest annual number ever recorded.
The figure showed an 11% increase from 373 such cases in the preceding year.
Reviewing the AIDS situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (February 26), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of DH, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said sexual transmission had continued to be the major mode of HIV spread in Hong Kong.
Of the 414 new cases, 103 acquired the infection via heterosexual exposure, 168 cases via homosexual or bisexual contact, 43 cases through injection drug use, two cases through blood/blood product infusion and one case through perinatal transmission. The routes of transmission of 97 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
In the fourth quarter of 2007, 87 people tested positive for HIV, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,612 since 1984.
Of the 87 HIV cases reported between October and December 2007, 17 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 34 via homosexual or bisexual contact, eight through drug injection and one through blood/blood product infusion. The routes of transmission of the remaining 27 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 87 cases comprised 74 males and 13 females.
Seventeen new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were reported in the fourth quarter of 2007, bringing to 934 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Forty-seven 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), closely followed by Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection.
The newly diagnosed cases between October and December 2007 were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (35), private hospitals and clinics (19), AIDS service organisations (13) and the Department of Health AIDS Counselling Service (9).
Of the newly reported cases in the fourth quarter, 54 (62.1%) have received treatment at the DH's HIV Specialist Services or the Hospital Authority.
The DH 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 members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should go for an HIV test. They could call the DH's AIDS hotline on 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test.
"They should use a condom for safer sex to reduce the risk of contracting HIV," Dr Wong said.
Information on AIDS and data on HIV/AIDS, which are released on a quarterly basis, can be viewed on the DH's AIDS webpage, www.aids.gov.hk.
HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, half of HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years.
Ends/Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:41
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