Number of Filipinos with HIV Go Up Nearly Twice in August

The number of Filipinos afflicted with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has nearly doubled in August, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

Eighty-eight more cases were documented in August this year, 81 percent higher than last year's 108 cases, the agency said, citing the August 2011 Philippine HIV and Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Registry Report.

Of these cases, seven have already become full-blown Aids cases composed of one female and six male victims. They acquired the virus through heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual contact.

Four patients also died last August but the agency did not specify the circumstances.

But it said that sexual contact remains the primary mode of transmission, accounting for 187 cases.

Seventy-nine acquired the virus through homosexual contact while bisexual and heterosexual sex made up for 67 and 41 of the cases, respectively.

Twenty-three of the new cases were found to be overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which acquired the virus through sexual contact.

Of this figure, heterosexual contact accounted for 10 of the sexually transmitted cases while homosexual and bisexual sex made up for eight and five of the cases, respectively.

Meanwhile, those who got the virus through drug use--a category known as injecting drug users (IDUs)--had eight cases. One was acquired via mother-to-child transmission.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona admitted that they find the IDU cases to be a complicated matter to handle since it involves "criminal" aspects.

Based on the latest figures, there are 1,416 reported HIV cases in the first eight months of 2011, including 66 full-blown AIDS cases.

Since 1984, a total of 7,431 HIV cases have been recorded in the Philippines with 930 cases of AIDS.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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