This undated photo shows the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Total 397 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection cases were reported in Hong Kong in 2023, compared with 409 in the previous year, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health announced on Tuesday.

Sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission, the center said, advising the public to use contraceptives consistently and properly to reduce the risk of infection.

“The number of reports of HIV infection has decreased for eight consecutive years from the peak of 725 cases in 2015 to 397 cases in 2023, but the rate of decline has moderated visibly last year,” a CHP spokesman said in a statement.

Of last year’s HIV cases, 326 were reported in males and 71 in females.

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Total 209 cases involved homosexual or bisexual contact, 110 were via heterosexual contact, and eight were contracted through drug injection. One case was related to blood or blood product transfusion outside the city, and another was via mother-to-child transmission, according to the CHP. 

Key populations with a higher risk of infection should undergo regular HIV screenings, while people who had sex but do not belong to these key populations should consider getting tested at least once.

Spokesman, Centre for Health Protection

The remaining 68 cases have yet to be determined, it added.

The fourth quarter of last year saw 95 new HIV cases, taking the cumulative total of infection cases to 12,038 since 1984.

Of the 95 new cases, 50 were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, 19 were related to heterosexual contact, two were via drug injection, and the remaining 24 cases have yet to be determined.

“Those with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. Key populations with a higher risk of infection should undergo regular HIV screenings, while people who had sex but do not belong to these key populations should consider getting tested at least once,” said the spokesman.

Meanwhile, 14 new Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases were reported in the fourth quarter, of which eight cases were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, and the rest cases were attributed to heterosexual contact. 

“The number of AIDS cases has escalated from 62 cases in 2022 to 101 cases in 2023, among which over 80 percent of AIDS patients progressed to AIDS after being diagnosed with HIV infection within three months. This indicates that the majority of people with HIV have not undergone HIV antibody testing early," said the spokesman.

Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2,483 confirmed AIDS cases have been reported in Hong Kong.

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Pointing out that a number of community resources are available for the public to undergo HIV antibody testing, the spokesman said members of the public can reserve a free, anonymous, and confidential HIV antibody test via the Department of Health's HIV Testing Service website or AIDS Hotline, which is 2780 2211.