********************************************
A total of 131 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the second quarter of 2012, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 5,523 since 1984.
Reviewing the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (September 4), 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 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 at 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test," Dr Wong said.
Of the 131 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 65 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact and 29 via heterosexual contact. The routes of transmission of the remaining 37 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 131 cases comprised 99 males and 32 females.
The newly diagnosed cases in the second quarter of 2012 were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (48 cases), private hospitals and clinics (31 cases) and the DH's AIDS Unit (26 cases).
Thirty new cases of AIDS were reported this quarter, bringing to 1,311 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Forty-three per cent of the new AIDS cases were related to homosexual or bisexual contact and another 50 per cent were attributed 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, September 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:00
NNNN
