THE first case of HIV-2, a second form of the killer virus, has been recorded in Hong Kong.
HIV-2 is believed to be a milder form of HIV, but has the same symptoms and progresses in a similar way.
It is closely related to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - the monkey virus from which the human virus is though to have originated.
The head of the Health Department's AIDS unit, Dr Lee Shui-shan, said most cases of HIV-2 occurred in West Africa and it was uncommon in Asia.
He said the case discovered was carried by a Caucasian male.
'From a clinical point of view it is not much different in terms of patient care,' he said. 'It is slightly less virulent which means it may be a milder form.' Releasing the AIDS figures for the first quarter of this year, Dr Lee warned that most of the new cases were occurring in the heterosexual community and that the numbers of women were particularly on the increase.