Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines
In August 2012, there were 272 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 39% higher compared to the same period last year.
Most of the cases (95%) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range: 18-60 years). The 20-29 year (59%) age group had the most number of cases. Fifty-one percent (138) of the reported cases were from the National Capital Region (NCR).
Reported modes of transmission were sexual contact (253) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (19). Males having sex with other males (86%) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (93%) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting.
AIDS Cases
Of the 272 HIV positive cases, twenty were reported as AIDS cases, all were males. The median age is 30 years (age range: 21-46 years). All acquired the infection through sexual contact (11 homosexual, 4 heterosexual, and 5 bisexual). Of the AIDS cases, there was one reported death for this month; a 41-year-old male.
Overseas Filipino Workers
Twenty-five of the 272 (9%) reported cases were OFWs. There were 18 males and 7 females. The median age was 32 years (age range: 22-58 years). All acquired the infection through sexual contact (10 heterosexual, 10 homosexual, and 5 bisexual).
Geographic Distribution
In August 2012, bulk of the new HIV cases came from NCR, Region 4A, Region 7, Region 3, and Region 11. The three highest reporting regions were NCR, Region 4A, and Region 7.
Source:
Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry
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