June sets new HIV monthly reporting record with 841 new cases

JUNE was a record month for reported new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with 841, the highest number recorded in a month since 1984,  according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, the figure topped the previous high of 804 cases reported in January this year.

“The 841 cases is 9 percent higher compared to the same period last year, which was 772 cases,” the DOH said.

Of the 841 new cases, 104 had developed into full-blown AIDS.

There were 63 deaths from HIV/AIDS in June.

The regions with the highest number of cases reported in June were the National Capital Region with 335 cases (40 percent); Calabarzon, 126 cases (15 percent); Central Visayas, 121 cases (14 percent); Central Luzon, 57 cases (7 percent), and Davao region, 46 cases (5 percent).

Of the new cases, 777 (92 percent) were acquired through sexual transmission, mostly men having sex with other men, which accounted for 690 cases or 89 percent.

Homosexual contact was cited in 403 cases, bisexual contact in 287 cases and heterosexual contact in 87 cases.

Injecting drug use accounted for 60 new cases, while the remaining four cases involved mother-to-child transmission.

The latest figures brought to 4,643 the total number of HIV cases reported in the country from January to June this year, which included 622 AIDS cases and 291 deaths.

Since 1984, there have been 34,999 HIV cases recorded in the country, including 3,174 AIDS cases and 1,822 deaths.