MANILA – The Department of Health reported 393 new human immunodeficiency virus cases as of April 2014, a government press release said.

This brought to 18,341 the total number of HIV cases from 1984 to 2014, of which 16,661, or 91 percent, were asymptomatic and 1,680 (nine percent) were full-blown AIDS cases.

From January to April 2014, there were 44 deaths, seven of those in April alone.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the DOH assured that they are continuously addressing the issues, especially among vulnerable groups – the men who have sex with men, needle sharing among injecting drug users, and commercial sex workers.

The latest HIV and AIDS Registry reported that, of the 393 new HIV cases, 96 percent were male with median age of 28 years. The 20 to 29 years (59 percent) age group had the most number of cases.

Reported modes of transmission were sexual contact (361) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (32), while males having sex with other males is still the predominant mode of transmission and most of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting.

In 2014, 93 percent (1,706) were infected through sexual contact, seven percent (118) through needle sharing among injecting drug users, and one infected through mother to child transmission.

The DOH also reported 209 HIV-positive overseas Filipino workers in 2014, bringing to 2,847 the total number of cases since 1984.

There were 6,437 people living with HIV presently on anti-retroviral therapy. These are the combined numbers of adult and pediatric patients’ currently enrolled and accessing Anti-Retroviral drugs in the 18 treatment hubs in the country.*PNA

back to top