MANILA, Philippines—HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The AIDS virus is contracted mainly through exchange of body fluids, as what happens in unprotected sex, and through blood transfusions and the use of HIV-infected needles, especially among drug addicts. A pregnant mother may also transmit the virus to the offspring, but not in all cases.

Outside the human body, the virus is easy to kill. If, for example, infected blood is spilled on the floor, water with a few drops of Clorox may be used to clean up.

Mosquitos do not transmit HIV; neither do drinking glasses. One will not be infected by shaking hands with or hugging a person with HIV-AIDS.

There are 500 clinics nationwide that can do HIV testing, said epidemiologist Dr. Genesis May J. Samonte of the HIV/AIDS Unit of the Department of Health. (For more information, visit the DoH website.)

At present

In October, 59 HIV-positive persons were confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry.

This was an 84-percent increase in the number of reported cases (32) in the same period last year, and the highest number ever reported in the month.

Most (86 percent) of the cases were male and from the National Capital Region. The median age was 30 (1-68). The reported mode of transmission was sexual contact and mother-child transmission.

Most (98 percent) of the cases were asymptomatic (or showed no symptoms) at the time of reporting.

Of the 59, one was reported as AIDS. The patient, 22, single, was infected through homosexual contact.

Thirteen were overseas Filipino workers, nine of whom were male. The age group with the biggest number of cases was 25-29. All were infected through sexual contact (10 heterosexual, 1 homosexual, 2 bisexual).

Since 1984

From January 1984 (when the first HIV-AIDS case in the Philippines was reported) until October 2008, a total of 3,515 HIV-positive cases have been recorded.

Of these, 2,715 were asymptomatic and 800 were AIDS cases; 2,429 were male. The age groups with the biggest number of cases were: 25-29 (21 percent), 30-34 (21 percent) and 35-39 (17 percent).

Of the 800 AIDS cases, 561 were male. The median age was 36 (1-72). At the time of reporting, 310 had died.

Leading mode of infection

Sexual intercourse was the leading mode of transmission for 741 cases. More than half (436) of sexual transmissions was through heterosexual contact, followed by homosexual contact (262) and bisexual contact (63).

Other modes of transmission were prenatal transmission (16), blood transfusion (10), drug use through injection (4) and needle prick injuries (2).

Of the 3,515 cases since 1984, 1,175 were OFWs; 875 were male, with ages ranging from 20 to 69 (median age 36).

Sexual contact was the predominant mode of infection (95 percent); 261 were AIDS cases, of whom 212 were male with ages 20-69.

Source: Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry