The Department of Health of Hong Kong Thursday revealed that 111
people tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the
cause of AIDS, in the second quarter of 2007 in Hong Kong.
This new figure has brought the cumulative total of reported HIV
infections to 3,400 in the city.
Of the 111 new HIV cases reported, 36 acquired the infection via
heterosexual contact, 38 via homosexual or bisexual contact and 10
via injection of drug. The routes of transmission of the remaining
27 cases were undetermined due to insufficient data.
Speaking at a press conference, the consultant of the Department
of Health Dr. Wong Ka-hing said one more cluster of eight reported
cases of HIV-1 Subtype B, a type of HIV infection with similar gene
sequencing, was detected this quarter.
According to Dr. Wong, cases of the newly found cluster were
reported between July, 2006, and May, 2007 and all contracted the
virus through homosexual and bisexual contacts.
The detection of this new cluster echoed the rising number of
reported HIV infections in men who have sex with men. It suggested
the presence of a local HIV transmission in Hong Kong.
As for the existing two clusters which were found earlier, one
has expanded from 53 to 66 HIV infections and the other remained at
13 cases as of June this year.
Reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, Dr. Wong said the
predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter remained to
be sexual contact.
There were 18 new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome) reported in the second quarter, bringing the total number
of confirmed AIDS cases to 893.
In this quarter, the most commonly presenting AIDS defining
illness was Pneumocystics Pneumonia.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)