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A total of 81 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported in the third 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 4,730 since 1984.
Reviewing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 30), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission in Hong Kong.
Dr Wong stressed the importance of proper use of condoms in reducing the risk of HIV infection.
"HIV causes AIDS, and without treatment, about half of HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years," Dr Wong said.
"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."
Of the 81 HIV cases reported this quarter, 22 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 30 via homosexual or bisexual contact and two through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 27 cases are yet undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 81 cases comprised 64 males and 17 females.
The newly diagnosed cases this quarter were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (34 cases), AIDS service organisations (15 cases) and DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (13 cases).
Thirty new cases of AIDS were reported in the third quarter, bringing to 1,171 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Forty-seven per cent of the new AIDS cases were related to heterosexual contact and 43 per cent to homosexual or bisexual contact.
During this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of opportunistic 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, November 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:18
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