A total of 1,962 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including that of 18 pregnant women, were reported in July to August this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.
In effect, based on the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, an average of 31 cases was reported every day during those months.
Most of the cases or 95 percent were males as more than half of the cases were from the age group of 25-34 years old while 31 percent were youths with ages ranging from 15-24 years old.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, the body’s natural defense system. Over time it leads to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS.
Of the 1,962 new cases, 250 had developed into full-blown AIDS.
There were 118 deaths from HIV/AIDS reported in July to August.
The regions with the highest number of cases reported in July to August were the National Capital Region with 732 cases; followed by Calabarzon with 344 cases; Central Luzon with 179; Central Visayas with 144 cases; Western Visayas with 121; and Davao region with 116 cases.
Sexual contact remains to be the main mode of transmission with 1,892 cases, of which 88 percent are from the male-having-sex-with-male (MSM) population.
Injecting drug use accounted for 35 new cases, while there were seven cases of mother-to-child transmission.
A total of 154 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were also found to have acquired HIV/AIDS. Most of them were infected through sexual contact.
The latest figures brought to 7,363 the total number of HIV cases reported in the country from January to August 2017, which included 891 AIDS cases, and 334 deaths.
Since 1984, 46,985 HIV cases have been reported in the country, including 4,556 AIDS cases, and 2,303 deaths. /kga