1,006 HIV cases reported in June—DOH

A total of 1,006 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or an average of 35 cases each day, were reported in June 2019,  the Department of Health (DOH)  said.

The virus could lead to the dreaded acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS, characterized by the weakening or breakdown of the body’s immune systems.

The latest cases bring to 6,372 the total reported HIV infrections from January to June 2019, and adds up to 68,401 the total reported incidence from 1984 to 2014.

Data from the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry showed that the bulk of the new HIV cases was from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

Ninety-five percent of the cases involved males, 52 percent of whom  belong to the 25-34 age group.

Majority of the HIV+ cases were contracted through unprotected sex, with men having sex with other men  as the predominant type of sexual transmission. The rest were infected through needle-sharing among injecting drug users, and through mother-to-child transmission. Five pregnant women were among the cases reported in June.

As of June 2019, 38,903 people living with HIV were reported to be undergoing antiretroviral therapy, the DOH said.  A total of 102 deaths were recorded in the same month.—TINA G. SANTOS