400 new HIV cases reported in November

MANILA, Philippines—Almost 400 new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which could lead to the fatal Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), were reported in November, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Contracting HIV leads to a condition characterized by the weakening or breakdown of the body’s immune system.

Data from the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry showed that there were 384 new HIV cases reported in November. This figure is 35 percent higher compared to the same period last year, which had 284 cases.

The new cases bring to 4,456 the number of cases since January and to 16,158 since 1984.

Thirty-five of the November cases, according to the registry, were full-blown AIDS.

The bulk of the new HIV cases were in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Davao.

“The three highest reporting regions were the NCR, Calabarzon and Central Luzon,” according to the registry.

Ninety-six percent of the cases were males, of which 63 percent belonged to the 20-29 year age group.

Of the 384 new cases, 379 were contracted through unprotected sex, with men having sex with other men as the predominant type of sexual transmission. Five were infected through needle sharing among injecting drug users.

Ninety-one percent of the cases were asymptomatic at the time of reporting, the DOH said.

A total of 153 deaths were reported from January to November this year. Of this number, 146 were males.

The highest number of deaths occurred in the 25-29 age group, followed by the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups, the DOH said.

For the month of November alone, three deaths were reported, it added.—Tina G. Santos