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Hong Kong HIV Infections Added to 1,636
Fifty persons were found positive in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody tests in the second quarter of 2001, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 1 636, Hong Kong Department of Health announced Thursday.
Fifteen new AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases were reported in the same quarter. This brings to a total of 524 confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985, according to the department.
The department's Senior Medical Officer for Special Preventive Program Dr Wong Ka-hing said, of the 50 new HIV cases reported, 31 acquired the infection via heterosexual contacts and 11 via homosexual contacts.
"One case involved an injecting drug user," Wong said, adding that the route of transmission of the remaining seven cases were undetermined due to inadequate data.
The 50 cases comprised 41 males and nine females, representing a ratio of 4.6 to 1, according to Wong.
The 15 new AIDS cases involved 11 males and four females. Eighty percent got the infection through heterosexual contacts.
In this quarter, the most common presenting AIDS defining illness is still Pneumocystic Carinii Pneumonia, followed by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis infection.
The first cases of HIV and AIDS were reported in Hong Kong in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
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