MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health registered 384 new cases of HIV/AIDS in November, bringing the year’s total thus far to 4,456, predominantly young males — not necessarily gay — having sex with other males
The Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry, which is maintained by the DOH, showed that, of the newest cases, 379 were acquired through sexual contact, with 96 percent of those infected males and 63 percent from the 20-29-years age group.
Only five cases involved needle sharing among drug users.
The age range of those infected was from 17-59, with the median age being 27 and 104 cases involving youth from 15-24 years old.
MSMs accounted for 83 percent of the infections.
November’s cases were 35 percent higher than the same period last year, when 284 cases were registered.
Of these, 35 cases have progressed to AIDS.
Metro Manila accounted for 43 percent of cases, followed by Calabarzon with 17 percent, Central Luzon and Davao with nine percent each, and Western Visayas with five percent.
Of this year’s total cases, 4,222 involved sexual contact, 1,250 involved youth aged 15-24, and three cases involved children younger than 15.
Another 231 cases involved needle sharing and three were mother-to-child transmission.
Three hundred seven cases progressed to AIDS.
Of the 16,158 cases recorded since 1984, 861 patients have died and 307 have acquired full-blown AIDS.
The overwhelming number of infections — 15,027, or 93 percent — involved sexual contact, four percent (671) were through needle sharing, 20 through blood transfusion and three from needle prick injuries.
Two percent, or 375 cases, were undetermined.
Almost half of all the cases — 7,485 — were in the National Capital Region. –Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com
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