LEGAZPI CITY – Some 229 Bicolanos tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) from January-September this year, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said Monday.
The DOH Epidemiology Bureau’s recorded 229 cases was three cases higher than the 226 cases it recorded in the same period last year.
Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH acting regional director, at a press briefing on Monday afternoon said the rising number of HIV-AIDS cases in Bicol is a serious health concern even if it only contributes a three-percent share in the total HIV cases nationwide. Topping the list of having the most number of recorded HIV-AIDS cases was the National Capital Region (NCR) followed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas.
According to Vera, the surging cases of this disease have gone beyond an outbreak since it has already become epidemic.
In the region, Camarines Sur remains to have the highest number of cases with 83, followed by Albay with 81 cases, Sorsogon with 26, Masbate with 20, Camarines Norte with 15, and Catanduanes with four, according to government data.
From 1984 to 2017, there are 724 HIV cases recorded in the Bicol region; and from 1984 to 2015, 32 people have already due to the social disease, it added.
Throughout the country, a total of 50,725 HIV-AIDS cases were recorded from January 1984 to December 2017, it also said. /kga