A total of 188 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the second quarter of 2016, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 8 053 since 1984.

     Reviewing the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (August 30), the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing, said that sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission.

     Dr Wong stressed the importance of proper use of condoms in reducing 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. On the contrary, HIV treatment prevents AIDS and significantly prolongs survival," he remarked.

     "Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. They can call the DH's AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV test," Dr Wong said.

     "HIV-positive people should seek specialist care as soon as possible," he added.

     Of the 188 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 98 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 35 via heterosexual contact and one through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 54 cases have yet to be determined due to inadequate information.

     The 188 cases comprise 163 males and 25 females.

     The newly diagnosed cases of the second quarter of 2016 were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (73 cases), private hospitals and clinics (38 cases), and the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (34 cases).

     In addition, 28 new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, bringing to 1 700 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Among the new cases, 46 per cent were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact and 43 per cent were related to heterosexual 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 second quarter this year, 112 of them (60 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority.

     Members of the public can obtain a wide range of HIV/AIDS-related information from the DH's AIDS website. Specifically, information on HIV testing and prevention can be accessed at the AIDS Hotline website.

Ends/Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:56

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