Nearly 5,000 found with HIV in PH from January to June

EIGHT-HUNDRED forty-one new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been reported in June 2016, bringing the number of cases closer to the 5,000 mark just halfway into 2016.

According to the monthly HIV/Aids Registry of the Philippines (Harp), the Department of Health (DOH) said they already have 4,643 new HIV cases reported in the country from January to June 2016.

And based on the latest Harp report, the 841 new HIV cases is now the highest figure reported inside a month.

“This is the highest number of cases ever reported since 1984,” said the June 2016 Harp report.

The number has topped the previous high of 804 that was recorded in January 2016.

“The 841 is nine percent higher compared to the same period last year, which was at 772,” added the DOH.

The report also pointed that, of the HIV cases in June, 104 developed into full-blown Aids cases and a total of 63 deaths.

As for the 4,643 HIV cases reported in the country from January to June 2016, a total of 622 developed into Aids cases, while 291 deaths were also reported.

Of the 841 new cases in June, a total of 777 cases (92%) of the new cases were acquired through sexual transmission, mostly from the men-havingsex-with-men (MSM) population, which accounted for 690 cases or 89 percent.

Homosexual contact was responsible for 403 cases; followed by bisexual contact with 287 cases; and 87 cases from heterosexual contact.

Injecting drug use accounted for the transmission of 60 new cases; while the remaining four cases were mother-to-child transmission.