Over 600 HIV cases recorded from January to September in Central Visayas -- DOH
CEBU CITY -- More than 600 cases of human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been recorded in Central Visayas from January to September this year, data from the Department of Health-CV showed.
Data showed that the province of Cebu has the most HIV/AIDS cases as it accounted for 637 out of the 667 cases that were recorded from January to September.
Twenty-four of the total cases came from Bohol while six came from Siquijor.
For the month of September alone, 75 cases have been reported in the region with 67 coming from Cebu.
Most of those afflicted by the virus are males at 695.
The DOH-7 data showed that from 1984 to present, a total of 8,661 HIV cases have been recorded in Region 7, and 7,939 of these patients are males.
From January to September this year, most of those afflicted with the virus belonged to the 25-34 age group with 378 followed by the 15-24 and 35-49 with 194 and 150, respectively.
The nine-month figures showed that 415 cases were caused by male to male sex. A total of 169 cases were caused by males having sex with males and females while 84 were due to male to female sex.
Sixty-three of the cases were caused by male persons who injected drugs.
In the same period, 22 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were found to have acquired the virus.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, and leads to AIDS if left untreated.
Every December 1, the World AIDS Days is being commemorated in support of those living with and affected by HIV.
As part of the commemoration on Thursday, a Mr. and Ms. World AIDS Days 2022 activity was held at the Cebu City Sports Institute in Barangay Sawang Calero.