HIV transmission through gay sex on the rise since 2008

MALES-having-sex-with-males (MSM) causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has outgrown heterosexual contact over the last five years in the Philippines, a report by the Department of Health (DOH) showed Sunday.

“There has been a shift in the predominant trend of sexual transmission from heterosexual contact to males having sex with other males,” said the Philippine HIV and Aids Registry report as of June 2012.

Figures show that from 2008 to June 2012, there have been 160, 216, 274, 388, and 196 cases of heterosexual contact resulting in HIV.

By comparison, HIV cases traced to homosexual contact in the same period are 215, 336, 680, 1,036, and 783.

Gay rights groups earlier said the figure could be higher because some sexually active gay men either refused to be counted or have yet to take the test.

On the other hand, bisexual HIV transmission was lower than heterosexual in 2008 with 127 cases but has since outnumbered the latter with 252, 467, 806, and 497 from 2009 up to June this year.

Last week, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned the country of a looming epidemic as MSM transmission makes up for majority of new HIV cases being found.

DOH spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag agreed with the warning of the UN panel, as he admitted that there is no immediate respite seen in the HIV situation in the Philippines, which is one of the only seven countries in the world with increasing cases as of 2010.

He noted how the government’s intervention program like peer counseling among vulnerable sector, treatment and education campaign are not expected to manifest results immediately.

“While we are addressing the problem with new strategies, we have already said that it is going to get worse before it gets better,” Tayag said.

The health official added the problem can be evident “for the next two or three years” before the situation improves as the cases are expected to begin slowing down.

“It takes three to five years before we can see a change,” said Tayag.

The health department reported 295 new HIV cases in June, which brings to 1,600 the total new cases for the year.

This surpassed the 1,591 infections recorded for the whole year of 2010. (HDT/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)