HIV cases in the Philippines have been rising. The country had the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia and the Pacific Region in 2020, according to the Department of Health. 

The Philippines had a 237 percent increase in annual new HIV infections from 2010 to 2020, the DOH said.

Latest data show that in July 2022, there were 1,346 newly diagnosed cases reported to the HIV/AIDS and & ART Registry of the Philippines. 

These bring to 8,788 the number of diagnosed HIV cases from January to July of this year.

Among the July 2022 HIV cases, 97 percent were transmitted through sexual contact, while one percent was transmitted through sharing of infected needles. 

Less than one percent was transmitted from mother to child. 

Eight percent or 111 of the newly reported cases engaged in transactional sex within the past 12 months, and 106 of them were males whose ages ranged from 15 to 56 at the time of diagnosis.

Among these males, 52 reported paying for sex, 36 accepted payment for sex, and 18 were engaged in both.

Of the five infected females who engaged in transactional sex, three accepted payment for sex while two both paid and accepted payment for sex. Their ages ranged from 19 to 26 years old.

A third, or 415, of the total reported cases in July were among the youth aged 15 to 24 years old. 392 of them were male. 

The new cases also included eight pregnant women whose ages ranged from 17 to 41, and 62 overseas Filipino workers, most of whom were male. 

Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas reported the most number of new cases.  

From January to July this year, male to male sex was the dominant mode of transmission, with 65 percent of the cases falling under this category.

Transmission from sex with males and females was at 22 percent, while transmission through male-female sex was at 11 percent. Transmission through sharing of needles was  at one percent.

The DOH said there were 70 reported deaths due to any cause among people living with HIV, and 96 percent of them were male. 

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and could lead to AIDS (Acquired  Immune Deficiency Syndrome) if not treated.

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications would slow down the progression of the disease. 

Symptoms of primary infection include fever, muscle soreness, rash, headache, sore throat, mouth or genital ulcers, swollen lymph glands, joint pain, and night sweats.