2 new HIV cases in Baguio bared

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Adding two new cases of HIV/AIDS-inflicted cases in the Cordillera region, the Social Hygiene Clinic in Baguio City has totaled 30 Human Immunodeficiency Virus cases here since 1997.

Declining to identify the persons, government physician Celia Brillantes, head of the Social Hygiene Clinic of the Baguio City Health Services Office here only hinted that both the victims are young male adults.

One of the new cases is undergoing validation of test results, Brillantes had said, while the other is undergoing counseling.

Further information that Brillantes could offer was that both are physically strong and would only need to take some maintenance drugs to strengthen their immune systems.

HIV/AIDS infection weakens the immune systems of the body, making the victim very vulnerable to illnesses.

With the new cases, Brillantes reiterates government’s advise for homosexuals and sexually active heterosexuals with multiple partners to “change their sexual orientation,” as they are prone to acquiring not only HIV but also sexually transmitted diseases (STD).

The Health department here said that the youngest case of HIV-affliction in Baguio is a 17-year-old male.

In the past several years, most of the cases of HIV-affliction in the city were either returning OFWs or commercial sex workers.