DOH: 1,240 more Pinoys HIV-infected

MANILA, Philippines — Over 1,000 more Filipinos got infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in April alone, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines report, a total of 1,240 new HIV cases were recorded last April.

“The average number of HIV cases per day in April was 50,” the DOH said.

Of the newly recorded cases, the department said 335 are in “advanced HIV infection” at the time of diagnosis.

The DOH reported 101 deaths due to HIV infection in April.

Sexual contact remains the most common mode of transmission with 1,219 cases.

Male-to-male sex accounted for 869 of the new HIV cases. Sex with male and female accounted for 183 cases and male-to-female sex accounted for 167 cases.

There were four cases of HIV acquired through sharing of infected needles; mother-to-child transmission, five, while 12 have no data available.

The DOH said two-thirds of the new HIV cases came from five regions: Metro Manila with 270, 265 from Calabarzon, 130 from Central Luzon, 96 from the Davao region and 74 from Western Visayas.

“These regions comprised 67 percent of the total number of HIV cases registered in April,” the DOH said.