106 Pinoys get HIV from paid sex in March

At least 106 persons were reported infected with the human immunodeficiency virus last March due to paid sex, data from the Department of Health (DOH) HIV/AIDS Registry showed.

Of the 106 cases, 61 acquired HIV after having sex they paid for. Except for one, all 61 cases were males.

The DOH also reported that 30 people, including four females, contracted HIV after having sex for which they accepted payment.

Fifteen of the 106 cases claimed to have engaged in both types of transactional sex before getting diagnosed with HIV.

According to the DOH, the new cases recorded in March brought to 355 the total number of HIV cases that were attributed to transactional sex in the first three months of the year.

Since December 2012, the DOH has recorded a total of 4,959 HIV cases acquired through paid sex.