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A total of 113 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2011, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 5 149 since 1984.
Reviewing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (November 29), 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 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 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test," Dr Wong said.
Of the 113 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 25 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 43 via homosexual or bisexual contact and one through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 44 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 113 cases comprise 93 males and 20 females.
The newly diagnosed cases this quarter were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (37 cases), private hospitals and clinics (29 cases) and the DH's AIDS Unit (18 cases).
Twenty new cases of AIDS were reported in the third quarter of 2011, bringing the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported to 1 241 since 1985. Forty-five per cent of the new AIDS cases were related to heterosexual contact.
In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), 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, November 29, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:34
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