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DOH RECORDS OVER 4,600 HIV CASES FOR Q1

  • Writer: Simone Flora
    Simone Flora
  • May 22
  • 2 min read

According to the Department of Health (DOH), 4,633 newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were recorded in the country from January to March, a ninefold increase compared with the same quarter last year.



Recent data from the HIV and AIDS Sur­veil­lance of the Phil­ip­pines showed that about 51 cases were recorded per day in the first quarter, a decrease of 11 percent compared to the quarter average cases last year at 57.



Average monthly cases were reported at 1,544, which was 9 percent lower than the same period in 2025 at 1,693.



Of the total new cases, 24 percent of patients were found to have advanced HIV at the time of diagnosis.



Nearly all cases were reported among men at 4,381 or 95 percent, while only 252 were logged among females.



The highest number of HIV infections were found in the National Capital Region at 989 cases, followed by Calabarzon (808), Central Luzon (551), Soccsksargen (227), and Davao (263). These regions account for 62 percent of the total new cases.



As for age demographics, 46 percent of infections were reported among individuals aged 25 to 35 years old, and 31 percent were logged among those aged 15 to 24.



Meanwhile, 845 cases were recorded among individuals aged 35 to 49 years old, 116 among those aged 50 and older, and 23 among individuals younger than 15 years old.



These numbers put the country's median age of new HIV cases at 28 years old.



According to the DOH, the primary mode of transmission for the first quarter cases remains to be through sexual contact, accounting for 91 percent (4,214) of the cases. With 3,095 being male-to-male sexual contact, and 567 being both male-to-male and male-to-female.



While no cure is available for the virus, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most feasible option for people living with HIV, which slows down the virus by preventing its duplication.



The DOH urges the public to practice safe intercourse to prevent the spread of HIV, and to undergo cer­ti­fied rapid HIV dia­gnostic algorithm for those at risk.


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