New HIV infections in Hong Kong hit record high in 2015
Aids concern groups express fears as total tops 700 cases in a year for the first time
The number of new HIV infections topped 700 for the first time in Hong Kong last year, figures from the Centre for Health Protection reveal.
While Aids concern groups expressed worries about the growth of cases, the government said the rise could be due to higher awareness about testing.
A total of 725 new cases of HIV infections were reported in 2015, a 11.4 per cent increase from the 651 in 2014. The number of cases has risen steadily in the past five years.
“This again broke the annual record of new HIV reports received, and also for the first time in number was greater than 700,” said Dr Wong Ka-hing, the centre’s consultant in the special preventive programme.
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In the fourth quarter last year, 184 new cases were reported, bringing the total in the city to 7,718 since the start of the reporting system in 1984.
Wong admitted that preventive programmes might not be as effective as the government expected. But he said there was no “definitive answer” on the rising trend.