SINGAPORE: From January to October this year, 385 new cases of
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported among Singapore
residents, said the health ministry on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) expects the total number of notified
HIV cases in 2012 to be similar to that of 2011, when there were
461 cases.
In the first six months of this year, 215 new cases of HIV, which
causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), were
reported.
Between July and October, there were 170 new
cases.
MOH said among the cases reported between January and June, 92 per
cent (198) were males and 8 per cent (17) were
females.
Most of them caught the virus through sex.
Half of those infected had heterosexual sex, while 43 per cent were
infected from homosexual transmission, and 4 per cent from bisexual
transmission.
About half, or 47 per cent, of those infected were between 30 and
49 years.
63 per cent were single, 23 per cent were married and 10 per cent
were divorced or separated.
Half of the new cases reported between January and June already had
late-stage HIV infection when they were diagnosed, similar to the
pattern in previous years.
Slightly more than half found out they had the virus during HIV
testing, as part of medical care.
Another 15 per cent were detected through health
screening.
14 per cent were detected during voluntary HIV screening and the
rest found out they were HIV-positive through contact tracing and
other screening methods.
A higher proportion of homosexuals - or 28 per cent - were detected
during voluntary screening, compared with 4 per cent for
heterosexuals.
MOH and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have urged individuals to
protect themselves from HIV infection by following the principles
of "ABCD": abstinence, being faithful, correct and consistent use
of condoms and early detection.
- CNA/xq
Link
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Be careful ppl... ppl around u might have HIV.
