MANILA, Philippines – A total of 358 new HIV infections were recorded last month, bringing to almost 5,000 the number of cases for 2013, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.
Based on the DOH’s HIV and AIDS (acute immune deficiency syndrome) registry, the number is 22 percent higher than the 293 cases recorded in December 2012. Of this, 31 were found to be full-blown AIDS at the time of reporting.
The health department said the new cases bring to 4,814 the total number of infections recorded since January 2013, including 179 deaths.
“The highest number of deaths occurred among the 25-29 age group with 28 percent, followed by the 30-34 age group with 25 percent and the 35-39 with 12 percent. There were 15 deaths recorded in December last year,” the agency said.
For 2012 and 2011, the registry showed 3,152 and 2,239 cases, respectively.
Since the opening of the registry in 1984, the DOH has monitored a total of 16,516 cases, 1,507 of which have developed into AIDS. There were 887 deaths.
“The annual number of deaths from 1984 to 2010 ranged from two to 36 cases with an average of 14 deaths per year. Since 2011, there has been an increase in the number of recorded deaths,” the DOH said.
There were 69 deaths in 2011 and 177 in 2012.
The registry showed that of 358 new cases, 318 got the infection through sexual contact while homosexual contact accounted for 148 cases.
Forty others got the virus through contaminated needles shared among drug users.
The DOH said sexual contact between males was the predominant type of virus transmission with 82 percent.
It said 125 of the cases were aged 12 to 24.
HIV-positive
Meanwhile, four persons in Ilocos Norte were reportedly found positive for HIV infection.
Laoag City Mayor Chevylle Fariñas wants to know the identities of two of the persons who were said to be from the city.
Fariñas said the city government would like to help these patients.
The provincial health office has reportedly said the four HIV-carriers include two from Laoag, one from Batac City and one from Dingras town.
Fariñas said it would be easier to prevent the spread of the virus once the city government knows the names and location of these patients.
The STAR has yet to confirm whether health officials granted the mayor’s request as the identities of HIV-AIDS patients are supposed to be confidential. –-Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) with Teddy Molina
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