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A total of 147 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 first quarter of 2016, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 7 865 since 1984.
Reviewing the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in Hong Kong at a press conference today (May 31), 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 147 HIV cases reported in this quarter, 79 acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 24 via heterosexual contact and two through drug injection. The routes of transmission of the remaining 42 cases have yet to be determined due to inadequate information.
The 147 cases comprise 121 males and 26 females.
The newly diagnosed cases of the first quarter of 2016 were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals and clinics (66 cases), AIDS service organisations (26 cases) and the DH's Social Hygiene Clinics (24 cases).
In addition, 17 new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, bringing to 1 672 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Among the new cases, 71 per cent were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact and 29 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 first quarter this year, 92 of them (63 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 (www.aids.gov.hk). Specifically, information on HIV testing and prevention can be accessed at the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com).
Ends/Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:00
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