841 new HIV cases reported in June, a record-high

More than 800 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported in June, 2016, the biggest number of cases ever recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) since 1984. Based on the latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, a total of 841 new HIV cases were reported in June, 2016. “This is the highest number of cases ever reported since 1984,” said the DOH report. The latest figure tops the previous record-high of 804 ported in January of this year. The number of cases is also nine percent higher compared with the same period last year, which was 772. Of the new cases in June, a total of 777 cases or 92 percent were acquired through sexual transmission. Most of the 777 cases came from the men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) population with 690 cases or 89 percent. Homosexual contact was responsible for 403 cases; followed by bisexual contact with 287 cases; [...]