New HIV/AIDS cases exceed 1,000 per day in August

MANILA, Philippines — The number of new HIV/AIDS cases had exceeded the 1,000-mark once again last August, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported yesterday.

Based on the HIV/AIDS Registry prepared by the DOH Epidemilogy Bureau, a total of 1,047 cases were recorded in August. In January, there were 1,021 cases.

The report showed 176 of the 1,047 cases showed clinical manifestations of Acquired immunodeficiency deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the advanced stage of HIV infection.

The death toll in August was 159.

The DOH said sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission with 1,022 cases, with the males having sex with males accounting for 887. 

Injecting drug users who shared contaminated needles accounted for 17 cases. 

The DOH noted the National Capital Region had the highest cases at 328; followed by CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) with 173 cases; Central Luzon with 119; Central Visayas, 108 and Western Visayas with 58.

DOH added that since January, there are 7,579 HIV cases, including 1,341 AIDS cases.

Data showed there are 58,181 HIV cases, including 6,409 AIDS cases.