373 S'poreans infected with HIV in first 10 months of 2010

373 S'poreans infected with HIV in first 10 months of 2010
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 28 November 2010 1848 hrs
 
SINGAPORE : About 373 Singaporeans were infected with HIV from January to October this year, bringing the total number of HIV cases in Singapore to 4,777.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it expects the total number of new HIV cases for this year to come close to that of last year's figure of 463.

Of the 169 cases reported between January and June this year, about 60 per cent of the cases had late-stage HIV infection.

And of these, about 90 per cent were men and the rest, women.

Sexual transmission remains the main mode of HIV transmission.

Of the 169 cases reported in the first six months of this year, 166 acquired the infection through the sexual route, with heterosexual transmission accounting for 56 per cent of infections, homosexual transmission acounting for 33 per cent of infections, and bisexual transmission 9 per cent. One was infected through intravenous drug use.

The MOH has urged those at risk of HIV infection and those who engage in risky sexual behaviour to go for regular HIV testing.

- CNA /ls