DOH: 427 new cases of HIV recorded in September

MANILA, Philippines – A total 427 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) had been reported in September, according to the Department of Health Tuesday.

Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag announced the update via Twitter, adding that for the whole year to date, there were 3,581 cases, for a total of 15,283 cases reported since 1984.

Recent data from the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry showed that most of the new HIV cases were from the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and Davao.

The three regions with the highest number of HIV cases were in Metro Manila, Central Visayas and Calabarzon, the report noted.

Data also showed that most HIV cases were contracted through unprotected sex, with men having sex with other men as the predominant type of sexual transmission.

The less common cases involved infection through needle sharing among injecting drug users.

HIV is a virus that could eventually lead to the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if not immediately treated.

Studies from the Philippine National AIDS Council showed that one Filipino contracts the HIV virus every one hour and 25 minutes.

What contributes to the spread of the virus, the group said, is that not all of those who are at risk of contracting HIV get tested. –Philippine News Agency, InterAksyon.com