DOH: 492 new HIV cases in Nov. 2014

MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines has 492 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that may progress to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the Department of Health reported on Tuesday.

Forty of the 492 cases have led to AIDS, said the DOH Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry for November 2014.

The latest tally of 492 new cases is 28 percent higher compared to the 384 cases reported in the same period last year.

The November 2014 figure brings the total of HIV cases compiled from January to November 2014 to 5,502.

On the other hand, the total number of HIV cases from 1984-2014 is 22,018.

The registry said the male cases recorded in November 2014 were 474 (96 percent), with a median age of 28 and age range of 17-68 years. The 20-29 year-old-age group has cornered 56 percent of the new cases.

Of the 492 cases, 464 individuals reported sexual contact as the mode of HIV transmission while 28 said they got the virus through needle sharing with injecting drug users.

Males having sex with other males registered 250 cases, bisexuals 146 cases, and heterosexuals 68 cases. The registry did not indicate the mode of transmission for 28 cases.

For the November 2014 data, the registry said the top five regions which registered the most number of HIV cases were: Metro Manila, Region 4A, Region 7, Region 3, and Region 11.

The DOH Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry for November 2014 said from 1984 to 2014, there were 22,018 HIV cases, of which 2,011 cases have become AIDS.

Of the 22,018 HIV cases, 20,519 individuals said they were infected through sexual contact, 1,035 needle-sharing among injecting drug users, 66 through mother-to-child transmission, 20 through blood transfusion, and 3 through needle prick injury. No data is available for the 375 cases.

Health experts said that unlike other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV, which means that an individual who has HIV has it for life. (MNS)