Nearly 2,000 new HIV cases in July, August: health department

November 29, 2017

Almost 2,000 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) in July and August.

The HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines report, there were a total of 1,962 cases reported in the period of two months, broken down to 858 in July and 1,104 cases in August.

Of the total HIV cases, 250  developed into full-blown cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

A total of 118 deaths from HIV/AIDS were also recorded in the same period.

Around 96 percent of  new HIV cases, which were 1,892, were transmitted through sexual contact.

Of those who acquired it through sexual contact, a total of 1,146 were through homosexual contact; 512 through bisexual contact; and 234 through heterosexual contact.

Other modes of transmission include 35 through sharing infected needles; and seven mother-to-child; while the remaining 28 others were unknown.

The July-August report also indicated 154 new cases were from overseas Filipino workers, with all but four acquired through sexual contact.

A total of 732 HIV cases came from the National Capital Region (NCR); followed by the 344 from Calabarzon; 179 from Central Luzon; 144 from Central Visayas; and 116 from Davao Region.

The new cases bring to 7,363 new HIV cases recorded from January to August including 891 AIDS cases and 334 deaths.

Since 1984, there are 46,985 HIV cases recorded nationwide, including 4,556 AIDS cases and 2,303 deaths.  DMS