‘1 Pinoy infected with HIV every 85 minutes’

MANILA, Philippines - One Filipino is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus every 85 minutes, according to experts who yesterday briefed members of the House of Representatives on the rapidly spreading cases of HIV infections and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the country.

Dr. Ferchito Avelino, executive director of the Philippine National AIDS Council, warned the country is no longer experiencing the “usual low and slow” spread of the deadly virus due to the increase of  males having sex with males (MSM) and people who inject drugs.

“We are now experiencing a fast and furious type of epidemic, wherein the epidemic is concentrated among males who have sex with males and people injecting drugs,” Avelino told reporters.

He said HIV cases in the Philippines rose by 523 percent increase from 2008 to 2012, “so that was really fast.”

“But is that epidemic on the general population? The answer is not yet at the moment, but we are looking at certain portion of the population who is now experiencing increasing HIV cases. Generalized epidemic begins with concentrated epidemic,” he said.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) has monitored at least 449 reported HIV cases mostly due to MSM in July.

Avelino said there are about 14,000 HIV cases across the country as reported to the DOH but he warned the figure could be much higher as only 20 percent of those at the most-at-risk populations (MARPs) undergo tests.

MARPs include people in prostitution, people who inject drugs, and those who engage in MSM. He said of those who undergo HIV testing, only 10 percent go back for results, and only five percent undergo treatment.

He said HIV cases have exceeded one percent of the population of the subgroups of MARPs.