Press Releases 1998
AIDS situation in 1997
A total of 181 persons were found to be positive for the HIV antibody test in 1997, bringing the cumulative total number of reported HIV infections to 957, the Department of Health announced today (Saturday).
The number of new HIV infections reported last year is the highest ever received in a single year since the surveillance system was established in 1984.
Sixty-four AIDS cases were reported in 1997 leading to a total number of 309 confirmed cases.
In 1997, the ratio of reported male to female infections is four to one. Over 80 percent acquired the infection via sexual contact.
Routes of transmission of the 957 HIV infected are: 506 through heterosexual and 284 through homosexual or bisexual; 16 were injecting drug users; four were mother- to-child transmission around the time of birth; and 67 acquired the infection through contaminated blood or blood products.
As for the remaining 80, the information available was inadequate for classification.
The Department's AIDS Unit operates an AIDS hotline -2780 2211 - providing information, counselling andvoluntary HIV testing to members of the public who perceive themselves at risk of infection. It also maintains an Internet HomePage on AIDS and the website address is http://www.info.gov.hk/aids.
HIV/AIDS Situation in Hong Kong
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