316 HIV cases in September – the highest ever

MANILA, Philippines – Last September, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 316 HIV cases, the highest ever since the country started recording such cases in 1984.

The DOH’s Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry showed that the new cases have raised to 2,466 the number of cases this year and to 10,830 since the registry was opened in 1984.

The 316 cases are also 25 percent higher than the 253 cases in September 2011.

According to the DOH, sex between both males was the predominant type of sexual transmission.

Ninety-seven percent of the cases were still “asymptomatic” or not manifesting symptoms at the time of reporting.

The DOH said sexual intercourse was the mode of transmission for 312 cases and needle sharing among injecting drug users for four cases.

“Most of the cases (96 percent) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range: 16-70). The 20-29 year (57 percent) age group had the most number of cases,” it said.

Of the 316 cases last Sept. 10, all males, were reported to have developed full-blown AIDS. All acquired the infection through sexual contract – six homosexual, one heterosexual, and three bisexual.

The registry showed that no death was reported in September.

Metro Manila accounted for 54 percent of the 316 cases; followed by Calabarzon with 15 percent; and Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Davao regions, each with five percent.

Of the 10,830 cases since 1984, 1,108 have progressed into AIDS.

“Of the reported AIDS cases, 353 (32 percent) already died at the time of reporting. Sexual contact was the most common mode of HIV transmission, accounting for 94 percent (1,042) of all reported AIDS cases,” the DOH said.

HIV transmission in 495 cases was through heterosexual contact, followed by homosexual contact (395) and bisexual contact (152).

Other modes of transmission included mother-to-child (20), blood transfusion (10), injecting drug use (six), and needle prick injuries (two).

“Three percent (28) of the AIDS cases did not report mode of HIV transmission,” the DOH said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Jess Diaz, (The Philippine Star)