HIV up in Baguio with 8 cases

BAGUIO CITY – Eight new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in this summer capital this year bringing total of cases in the city to 59 cases since 1992.

Based on the HIV-AIDS registry provided by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, head of the Baguio Health Department social hygiene clinic, six of the new HIV cases were men having sex with men (MSM) while two were males.

The number of recorded cases this year was six higher compared to 2012.

Brillantes said it was the second time that the city recorded eight cases in a year.

The year that the city recorded eight HIV cases was in 2011, she said.

In 2004 and 2010,  Baguio had six cases each, five cases in 2009, four in 2006 and three each in 1997 and 2005.

For the rest of years since 1992, the city had only one to two cases.

City epidemiology experts said that the ages of the 59 patients range from 17 to 45 years.

Of the said number, 18 have died.

Majority of patients were males (44) while 15 were females.

The city health office said 22 of the cases were males who had sex with males, 18 were overseas Filipino workers, five were blood donors, four were sexually active females, five were sexually active males, three are wives of persons afflicted with the disease while two were foreigners.