An Average of 56 New Cases Per Day
"Infections Among Ages 15 to 25 Surge by 500%"
It has been reported that the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections is surging in the Philippines, prompting consideration of declaring a national public health emergency.
The scene from the "World AIDS Day Event" held in the Philippines on December 1, 2023. Photo by Yonhap News
According to local media outlets such as the Philippine Star and China's Xinhua News Agency on June 4 (local time), the Philippine Department of Health announced in a statement the previous day that there were 6,703 new HIV infections recorded from January to April this year. The average number of new HIV infections per day increased from 21 in 2014 to 48 last year, more than doubling over a decade, and has risen again to 56 this year, marking a 44% increase compared to the same period last year. This shows that the rate of increase has become even steeper.
Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Department of Health, stated that the Philippines has emerged as the country with the fastest-growing number of HIV infections in the Western Pacific region. He pointed out, "Our biggest problem right now is not MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox), but the spread of HIV," and added, "It would be advisable to declare a national public health emergency regarding HIV."
In the Philippines, the authority to declare a national public health emergency lies with the president. The most recent declaration was made during the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020 to July 2023.
Secretary Herbosa expressed concern that a significant proportion of new HIV infections in the Philippines are among young people, stating that "the number of HIV infections among those aged 15 to 25 has increased by about 500%." It has been reported that 145 people died in the Philippines in the first quarter of this year due to HIV infection and the onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The Department of Health explained that the main route of HIV transmission is sexual contact, and that 83% of recent cases are related to sexual intercourse between men.
Secretary Herbosa emphasized that "HIV is no longer a death sentence and is treatable, so efforts to strengthen HIV testing, prevention, and treatment must be enhanced." He urged people to practice safe sex by using contraceptives and HIV infection prevention medication, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Meanwhile, HIV refers to the virus that causes AIDS and is called the human immunodeficiency virus. Not all people infected with HIV develop AIDS; among those infected with HIV, a diagnosis of AIDS is made when the disease progresses to the point where the immune system falls below a certain level or specific symptoms appear.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
