AIDS cases hit 3,338 in 2012

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 293 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency (HIV-AIDS) last December, bringing to 3,338 the cases in 2012.

In its HIV and AIDS Registry, the DOH said the new cases represent a nine percent increase compared to 268 recorded in December 2011.

“Of the 293 HIV positive cases, 14 were reported as full-blown AIDS, 12 males and two females. The median age is 31 years (age range 23-55 years),” the DOH said.

Males aged between 20-29 years old accounted for 57 percent of the cases. A total of 152 cases came from Metro Manila.

At least 288 of the cases were acquired through sexual contact and five through needle sharing.

“Males having sex with other males (83 percent) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (95 percent) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting,” the DOH said.

A total of 11,702 HIV cases were recorded in the country since 1984, of which 1,168 progressed into AIDS. Death toll is at 353.

The DOH said sexual contact is the most common mode of transmission, accounting for 94 percent or 1,101 of all reported AIDS cases.

“Almost half (508) of sexual transmission was through heterosexual contact, followed by homosexual contact (428) then bisexual contact (165),” the DOH said.

The other modes of transmission are mother-to-child (20), blood transfusion (10), intravenous drug use (seven) and needle prick injuries (two).

The DOH said there has been a shift in the mode of transmission from heterosexual contact (20 percent) to males having sex with other males (80 percent). –Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star