More men in MM getting HIV – DOH

MANILA, Philippines - More men in their 20s, most likely those in Metro Manila, are getting infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

DOH figures indicate that men who have multiple male partners comprise the largest number of people diagnosed with HIV.

Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said the DOH recorded the highest number of new HIV cases for the month of July with a total of 585, 30 percent higher compared to the figure during the same period a year ago.

Citing data from the DOH’s Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry, Tayag said the 585 new cases brought to 3,399 the total number of newly diagnosed HIV cases for this year.

Of the 3,399 cases from January to July, 96 percent were men and more than half, or 58 percent, belong to the 20 to 29-year-old age bracket.

Men aged 25 to 29 years accounted for 33 percent of new HIV cases while those aged 20 to 24 years comprised 25 percent. Twenty percent of new HIV cases were men aged 30 to 34 years.

The same data also indicated 82 percent of the new cases were men having sex with other men while 84 percent of the new cases reported in July came from the National Capital Region (NCR).

Tayag said men from urban areas like Metro Manila and those who engage in unprotected sex are likely to get infected with HIV, which could develop into full-blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

He said that HIV/AIDS is not a “gay disease” and any person who has multiple sexual partners are more prone to acquiring the infection.

Tayag urged the people at risk to have themselves tested for HIV and to always use condoms for their protection.