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A total of 139 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the first quarter of 2013, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 5 922 since 1984.
Reviewing the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (May 28), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP of the DH, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said that sexual transmission remained 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 contracting HIV.
He said, "Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV test early. They can call the DH's AIDS Hotline on 2780 2211 for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test."
Of the 139 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 53 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 43 via heterosexual contact and two through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 41 cases were undetermined due to inadequate information.
The 139 cases comprised 97 males and 42 females.
The newly diagnosed cases of the first quarter of 2013 were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (50 cases), the DH's AIDS Unit (23 cases), and private hospitals and clinics (22 cases).
HIV is the cause of AIDS and, without treatment, about half of the HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS within 10 years.
Twelve new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, bringing to 1 365 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Forty-two per cent were attributed to heterosexual contact and 33 per cent were related to homosexual or bisexual contact.
In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis Pneumonia, a kind of chest infection.
Of the newly reported cases in the first quarter of this year, 93 (67 per cent) had already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.
The public may visit the DH's AIDS website (www.aids.gov.hk) for further HIV/AIDS-related information.
Ends/Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:43
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