DOH records 1,292 new HIV cases in February
Published Apr 1, 2023 06:22 am
A total of 1,292 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were detected in February, latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.
The average number of HIV cases per day in February was at 47, the DOH said.
Of the total figure, the DOH reported that 1,236 cases involved male individuals while 56 were female.
The regions with the most number of newly reported cases were the National Capital Region with 294, Calabarzon with 253, Central Luzon with 133, Davao Region with 84, and Central Visayas with 80.
“These regions comprised 65 percent of the total number of cases in this period,” the DOH said.
Of the total reported cases in February, the DOH said that 1,277 "acquired HIV through sexual contact."
"Moreover, there were two who acquired HIV through mother-to-child transmission and 13 had no data on mode of transmission," the DOH said.
The DOH reported that there were 44 deaths logged in February “due to any cause among people diagnosed with HIV.”
Of the newly reported cases, 54 were adolescents aged 10 to 19 while two cases were children less than 10 years old, the DOH said. “All of the reported adolescent cases acquired HIV through sexual contact,” the DOH said. “On the other hand, the age of children ranged from two to three years old at the time of diagnosis, all acquired HIV through vertical transmission,” it added.
The Philippines has already recorded a total of 112,028 HIV cases since the first infection was logged in 1984. “From January 1984 to February 2023, there were 6,425 reported deaths,” the DOH said. Meanwhile, the DOH noted that 1,176 individuals were newly enrolled to the treatment program or the antiretroviral therapy (ART). “A total of 65,236 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were presently on ART as of February 2023,” the DOH said, adding that “the age of reported cases ranged from one to 81 years.”
Cases among children
Of the newly reported cases, 54 were adolescents aged 10 to 19 while two cases were children less than 10 years old, the DOH said. “All of the reported adolescent cases acquired HIV through sexual contact,” the DOH said. “On the other hand, the age of children ranged from two to three years old at the time of diagnosis, all acquired HIV through vertical transmission,” it added.
Total, treatment
The Philippines has already recorded a total of 112,028 HIV cases since the first infection was logged in 1984. “From January 1984 to February 2023, there were 6,425 reported deaths,” the DOH said. Meanwhile, the DOH noted that 1,176 individuals were newly enrolled to the treatment program or the antiretroviral therapy (ART). “A total of 65,236 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were presently on ART as of February 2023,” the DOH said, adding that “the age of reported cases ranged from one to 81 years.”