HARP Records 629 New HIV-Positive Cases in April 2017

The HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) on Friday reported that 629 people nationwide tested positive for HIV last April, bringing to 3,290 the total number of infections in the first four months of the year.

The report noted that the figure is lower than the 772 cases recorded in April last year.

Of the 629 cases, 596 were male and 33 were female, while 84 cases were found to have progressed into AIDS and 17 deaths were recorded.

Sexual contact remains to be the top mode of HIV transmission comprising of 609 cases, followed by needle sharing among injecting drug users with 18 cases, and mother-to-child transmission with two cases.

Some 87 percent of the infections were attributed to male having sex with male. Homosexual contact had a total of 343 cases, followed by bisexual contact with 184, and heterosexual contact with 82.

Meanwhile, of the 629 new HIV cases, 51 were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In terms of regions, the National Capital Region topped the list with 234 cases, followed by Calabarzon with 109, Central Visayas with 71, Central Luzon with 56, and Davao region with 24.

Of the 3,290 HIV cases from January to April this year, 376 cases developed into AIDS, and 172 deaths were reported.

From 1984, when HIV was first reported in the country, until last April, there have been a total of 42,912 HIV cases, 4,041 of which have progressed into AIDS. A total of 2,141 deaths have been reported.

In preventing the spread of the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) had been reminding the public to practice ABC — abstinence; being faithful to one’s partner; and using condoms or practicing safe sex if both A and B are not possible.

The department has also encouraged those at risk to get tested. Those who turn positive are given counseling and anti-retroviral therapy to help them counter opportunistic infections, which would prolong their life.