Hong Kong health authorities said Tuesday that there were 20 new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) reported in the first quarter, bringing to 875 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985.

The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also revealed that 91 people were tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the cause of AIDS) antibody in the same quarter, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,289.

Reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, Dr Wong Ka-hing, the consultant of the department, said at a press conference that the predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter remained to be sexual contact.

Of the 91 new HIV cases reported, 20 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 35 via homosexual or bisexual contact, seven via injection of drug and one case of blood/blood product infusion, he said, adding that the 91 cases comprised 72 males and 19 females.

In this quarter, the most commonly presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystics Pneumonia (PCP), a kind of chest infection, which was closely followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB).

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2007)