New HIV cases in Phl hit record high in April

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - New cases of HIV infections in the Philippines was highest in April at 388, the Department of Health (DOH) said today.

In its HIV and AIDS registry, the DOH reported that the 388 fresh cases in April was 67 percent higher than the 233 recorded in April 2012.

HIV infections recorded in April brought the total number of new HIV cases in the first four months of the year to 1,477.

Of the 388 new HIV cases, the DOH said 95 percent, or 368 cases, of those infected were male.

Also, 61 percent of those who were infected were 20 to 29 years old. A total of 119 of those who contracted HIV in April were young people aged 15 to 24 years old.

DOH data showed that new cases of HIV infections have been increasing since 1984. Last year, the government recorded 3,338 new HIV cases, 42.1 percent higher than the number in 2011.

The Philippine government had vowed to step up its information campaign to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS.