INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health-National Epidemiology Center (DOH-NEC) released a report Thursday stating there were 585 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV and AIDS) recorded in July.
The July 2014 Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry stated that 36 of the new HIV cases progressed into full-blown AIDS, a disease which weakens the immune system of the affected individual.
The said figure is the highest number of cases recorded in a month, according to the report.
Seventeen deaths due to AIDS were accounted, and all were male.
The report also said the current figure is 136 cases more than the 449 reported cases recorded in July last year.
Sexual contact accounted to 551 reported cases of HIV and AIDS for the said month, while injection through drug use posted 34 cases.
Breaking down the 551 HIV and AIDS cases transmitted through sexual contact, 276 cases were from homosexual contact, 175 cases from bisexual contact, and 100 cases from heterosexual contact.
The National Capital Region posted the highest HIV and AIDS incidence in the country with 41 percent, followed by the Calabarzon region with 17 percent and Central Visayas region with 11 percent.
The report also revealed that 61 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) were inflicted with HIV and AIDS, where 60 OFWs got the infection through sexual contact and one through the result of injection through drug use.
The HIV and AIDS Registry also recorded that 7,172 people are presently living with AIDS in the country and are on Anti-retroviral Therapy.
DOH revealed that 19,915 HIV and AIDS cases were recorded from 1984 to 2014.
The Philippine National AIDS Council expressed alarm on the current upward trend of HIV and AIDS cases in the country as the Philippines is one of the eight countries in the world where HIV cases continue to rise.
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