Hong Kong health authorities said Tuesday that there were 20 new
cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) reported in the
first quarter, bringing to 875 the total number of confirmed AIDS
cases reported since 1985.
The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of
Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also revealed
that 91 people were tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency
Virus - the cause of AIDS) antibody in the same quarter, bringing
the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,289.
Reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, Dr Wong Ka-hing,
the consultant of the department, said at a press conference that
the predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter remained
to be sexual contact.
Of the 91 new HIV cases reported, 20 acquired the infection via
heterosexual contact, 35 via homosexual or bisexual contact, seven
via injection of drug and one case of blood/blood product infusion,
he said, adding that the 91 cases comprised 72 males and 19
females.
In this quarter, the most commonly presenting AIDS defining illness
was Pneumocystics Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection, which
was closely followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
(TB).
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)