A quarterly record high of 131 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases were reported to the Health Department in the second quarter of 2012, bringing the cumulative total of HIV infections in the city to 5,523 since 1984.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health reported the latest statistics on Tuesday. The center's consultant, Wong Ka-hing, said while the quarterly infection was a record high, he expected the number of infections to hit the alarming mark of 500 by the end of year.

Of the 131 HIV cases, 99 are males, 65 of whom contracted the virus through homosexual or bisexual contact. Twenty-nine acquired HIV through heterosexual contact. Gay men aged 20 to 29 are considered most at risk of HIV - Wong said he believed it was because this group was least aware of the importance of protected sex. HIV is the cause of AIDS - half of all HIV infections cases will progress to AIDS within 10 years without treatment.

Thirty new cases of AIDS were reported in the second quarter, bringing to 1,311 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985. Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection, dominated as the most common AIDS-defining illness.

Wong said while the introduction of cocktail treatment has decreased the death rate by 90 percent, it costs HK$100,000 a year for each AIDS patient to bring the illness under control.

Wong urged people with a history of unprotected sex to undergo free and confidential tests provided by the government. Early treatments will minimize the chance of progression into full blown AIDS, he added.

The statistics were consistent with the center's most recent finding concerning sexual behavior and the prevalence of HIV in the gay community.

The survey, conducted in November 2011, showed 4.08 percent of gay men reached at venues and 3.3 percent contacted via the Internet tested positive for HIV. The report raised concern about the need for awareness of protected sex amongst young homosexuals, especially those with active sex lives outside Hong Kong.

kahon@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 09/05/2012 page1)