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A total of 101 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were reported in the first quarter of 2010 to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 4,544 since 1984.
Reviewing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (June 1), Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said that sexual transmission continued to be the major mode of HIV transmission in Hong Kong.
Dr Wong stressed the importance of the proper use of condoms 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.
"People who have a history of unprotected sex should call the DH's AIDS hotline on 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test." Dr Wong said.
Of the 101 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 20 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 41 via homosexual or bisexual contact, four through drug injection, and one through mother-to-child transmission. The routes of transmission of the remaining 35 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 101 cases comprised 75 males and 26 females.
The newly diagnosed cases in this quarter were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (33 cases), private hospitals and clinics (25 cases) and the DH's AIDS Unit (20 cases).
Nineteen new cases of AIDS were reported in the first quarter of 2010, bringing to 1,125 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Of the new AIDS cases, 42% were related to heterosexual contact and 42% to homosexual or bisexual contact.
In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
Members of the public can obtain a wide range of HIV/AIDS related information from the AIDS website (www.aids.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:49
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