HIV cases monitored in 1 month alarmingly breach 1,000 – DOH

The total number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases recorded in the month of May has breached the 1,000 mark for the first time in the Philippines, latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) revealed yesterday.

According to the HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report there were 1,098 new HIV cases recorded in May 2017.

“This is the highest recorded cases ever since 1984,” said the DOH report.

The May 2017 cases passed the previous high of 968 HIV cases recorded in a month last March.

This figure is also 48 percent higher as compared with the number of cases recorded in the same period last year at 741.

Meanwhile, of the newly recorded HIV cases, a total of 140 were full-blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases. There were also 15 deaths from HIV/AIDS reported in May.

Sexual contact continues to be the number one mode of transmission with 1,068 cases; which are mostly from the malehaving-sex-with-male population with 918.

Homosexual contact had the highest number with 558. It was followed by the bisexual contact with 360, and heterosexual contact with 150.

On the other hand, a total of 27 injecting drug users were also recorded as transmitting HIV; and three cases of mother-to-child transmission.

Majority of the cases were from the National Capital Region with 404; followed by Calabarzon with 155; Central Luzon with 108; Central Visayas with 98; and Davao Region with 60.

A total of 84 overseas Filipino workers were also infected with HIV/AIDS. All of which were infected through sexual contact.

For the first five months of 2017, the DOH have already listed a total of 4,388 new HIV cases, 516 AIDS cases, and 187 deaths.