HIV/AIDS Situation in Hong Kong [2010]

The first case of HIV infection in Hong Kong was reported in 1984. The Department of Health has received a cumulative total of 4832 reports of HIV infection under the voluntary and anonymous HIV/AIDS reporting system as of year 2010. The number of annual reports increased gradually over the past few years despite a mild drop in past two years. The number of HIV reports in 2010 was 389. People infected with HIV progress to AIDS when they suffer from severe immunodeficiency due to HIV. The increasing trend of AIDS reports was ceased in 1997, most likely contributed by the introduction of effective highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) around then. A slight rise in AIDS cases was observed in recent years but the ratio of HIV to AIDS remained stable. In 2010, 79 AIDS reports were received. The most common illnesses presenting at AIDS were Pneumocystis pneumonia and tuberculosis.