HIV cases on the rise in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Caraga region has reported an increase in the number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the first quarter of this year.

A disease surveillance report of the DOH in Region 13 showed that seven new HIV cases were recorded as of January alone. Health officials said the number is 75 percent higher compared to last year.

Romelyn Torralba, DOH-Caraga regional information officer, said 247 cases were recorded from 1995 to the first quarter of this year.

A majority of those affected were males while 46 percent were between 25 to 34 years old. The youngest patient was an 18-year-old male while the oldest was 67 years old.