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A total of 389 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were reported to the Department of Health (DH) in 2010, compared with 396 reported cases in the preceding year.
Reviewing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (March 1), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of DH's Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Dr Wong Ka-hing, said sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission in Hong Kong.
Of the 389 new cases, 161 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual exposure and 111 via heterosexual contact. There were also 15 cases of drug injection and three cases of perinatal transmission. The routes of transmission of 99 cases had yet to be determined due to inadequate information.
In the fourth quarter of 2010, a total of 102 people tested positive for HIV, taking the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 4,832 since 1984.
Of the 102 HIV cases reported in the fourth quarter, 35 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 25 via heterosexual contact, four through drug injection and one by perinatal transmission. The routes of transmission of the remaining 37 cases had yet to be determined due to inadequate information.
The 102 cases comprised 67 males and 35 females.
Fourteen new cases of AIDS were reported in the fourth quarter of 2010, bringing to 1,185 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. 36% of the new AIDS cases was related to homosexual or bisexual contact and another 36% was attributed to heterosexual contact.
In the same quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection.
The newly diagnosed cases in the fourth quarter of 2010 were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (42 cases), private hospitals and clinics (26 cases), AIDS Unit of DH (12 cases) and AIDS service organisations (10 cases).
Of the newly reported cases in the fourth quarter last year, 61 (60%) had received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
Dr Wong said, "Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV test. They can call the department's AIDS hotline at 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.
"HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years".
Information and data on HIV/AIDS, which are released on a quarterly basis, are available at the department's AIDS webpage, www.aids.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:51
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