DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FEBRUARY 2011

NATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTER

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines

In February 2011, there were 159 new HIV Ab Table 1. Quick Facts
sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Demographic Data Feb Jan-Feb Cumulative Data:
2011 2011 1984—2011
Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported
Total Reported Cases 6,326
Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry

159 311
to the HIV and AIDS Registry (Table 1). This was a
Asymptomatic Cases 156 305 5,463
22% increase compared to the same period last year
AIDS Cases 3 6 863
(n=130 in 2010) [Figure 1].
Males 144 285 4,984*
Most of the cases (91%) were males. The median age Females 15 26 1,331*
was 28 years (age range:15-56 years). The 20-29 year Youth 15-24yo 44 89 1,302
(52%) age-group had the most number of cases. Fifty- Children <15yo 0 0 55
six percent (89) of the reported cases were from the Reported Deaths due to AIDS 1 1 324
National Capital Region (NCR). *Note: No data available on sex for eleven (11) cases.

Reported mode of transmission was sexual contact Figure 1. Number of New HIV Cases per Month (2008-2011)
(155) and blood transfusion (1). Three did not report 175

mode of transmission [Table 2, page 3]. Males having

150
125
sex with other Males (79%) were the predominant type 100
of sexual transmission [Figure 2]. Most (98%) of the 75

cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting 50

[Figure 3].
25
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

AIDS Cases 2009 65 47 59 66 85 40 70 61 56 80 80 126

2010 143 130 120 154 153 109 131 108 153 104 112 174
Of the 159 HIV positive cases, three were reported as 2011 152 159

AIDS cases. Two were males and one was female. The
median age was 24 years (age range: 22-27 years). All Figure 2. Comparison of the Proportion of Types of Sexual
acquired infection through sexual contact (1 heterosex- Transmission in 2011, 2010 & Cumulative Data (1984-2011)
ual, 1 homosexual, and 1 bisexual). There was one re- 100% Het erosexual

ported death for this month. 90% 33 21 Bisexual

Homosexual
80%
2546
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) 70% 32
60% 52
Nineteen of the 159 (12%) reported cases were OFWs 50%
1173
[Figure 9, page 3]. Fifteen were males and four were
40%

females. The median age was 32 years (age range: 25-

30%
67
70
20%
1993
41 years). All cases acquired the HIV infection through 10%
sexual contact (7 heterosexual, 6 homosexual, and 6 0%

bisexual). F eb 2 0 11 F eb 2 0 10 C umul at i ve

Figure 3. Number of HIV/AIDS Cases Reported in the Philippines by Year, Jan 1984 to February 2011 (N=6,326)
1650

1500
1350

1200
1050

900

750

600

450
300

150

0
'84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

T OT A L 2 10 29 38 32 39 66 85 72 102 118 116 154 117 189 158 123 174 184 193 199 210 309 342 528 835 1591 311

A s y mpt omat i c 0 6 18 25 21 29 48 68 51 64 61 65 104 94 144 80 83 118 140 139 161 171 273 312 506 806 1571 305

A I DS 2 4 11 13 11 10 18 17 21 38 57 51 50 23 45 78 40 56 44 54 38 39 36 30 22 29 20 6

Deat h 2 4 10 12 9 8 15 13 13 11 19 24 27 10 16 17 9 20 11 11 8 16 18 10 *7 1 2 1

*Five initially asymptomatic cases reported in 2008, died due to AIDS that same year. 1
Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry February 2011

AIDS Cases (1984-2011) Fig 4. Proportion of Modes of Transmission of AIDS Cases by Year,
Jan 1984—February 2011
Of the 311 HIV positive cases in 2011, six were reported as
AIDS cases. Eighty-three percent were males. Ages ranged
100%

from 22-51 years (median 32 years). All acquired the infection

through sexual contact [heterosexual (2), homosexual contact 75%

(3), and bisexual contact (1)].

From 1984 to 2011, there were 863 AIDS cases reported, 71% 50%

(615) were males. Median age was 35 years (range 1-72

years). Of the AIDS cases, there were 324 (38%) deaths 25%

during the reported period. Sexual contact was the most

common mode of HIV transmission, accounting for 93% (802)
of all AIDS cases. More than half (450) of sexual transmission
0%
1984-2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

was through heterosexual contact, followed by homosexual Needl e P r i c k 2 0 0 0 0

contact (275) then bisexual contact (77). Other modes of B l ood T r ans f us i on 10 0 0 0 0

M T CT 16 0 1 0 0

transmission include: mother-to-child transmission (17), blood I DU 3 1 0 0 0

transfusion (10), injecting drug use (4), and needle prick B i s ex ual Cont ac t 60 4 8 4 1

injuries (2) [Figure 4]. Three percent (28) of the AIDS cases Homos ex ual Cont ac t 234 10 14 14 3

Het er os ex ual Cont ac t 433 7 6 2 2

did not report mode of HIV transmission. *Note: 28 did not report mode of transmission

Demographic Characteristics (1984-2011)

In 2011, there were a total of 311 cases reported. 92% of Figure 5. Proportion of Sex & Age-Groups in Feb 2011 & Jan-Feb 2011
the cases reported were males (285). Ages ranged from 100%

15-61 years old (median 28 years). The 20-29 year old age
group (59%) had the most number of cases for 2011. For the 75%

male age group, the most number of cases were found

among the 20-24 years old (27%), 25-29 years old (32%) 50%

and 30-34 years old (21%) [Figure 5].

From 1984 to 2011, there were 6,326 HIV Ab sero-positive 25%

cases reported (Table 1), of which 5,463 (86%) were

asymptomatic and 863 (14%) were AIDS cases. As shown in 0%
Febr uar y 2011 (M ) Febr uar y 2011 (F) 2011 (M al e) 2011 (Femal e)

Figure 6, there is a significant difference in the number of 50 & ol der 2 1 7 1

male and female cases reported. Seventy-nine percent 35-49y o 26 3 42 8

(4,984) were males. Ages ranged from 1-73 years (median 30 25-34y o 75 8 152 12

years). The age groups with the most number of cases were:
15-24y o 41 3 84 5

1-14y o 0 0 0 0

20-24 years (19%), 25-29 (25%) and 30-34 years (19%)

[Figure 6].
Figure 6. Comparison of the Distribution of Male and Female HIV Cases by Age-Group and Certain Highlighted Years
50 & o lder 1984-2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
45-49yo

40-44yo

35-39yo

30-34yo

25-29yo

20-24yo

15-19yo
Number of Male Cases <15yo Number of Female Cases
1500 1250 1000 750 500 250 0 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500

<15y o 15-19y o 20-24y o 25-29y o 30-34yo 35-39yo 40-44y o 45-49y o 50 & ol der <15y o 15-19yo 20-24y o 25-29y o 30- 34y o 35-39y o 40-44y o 45- 49y o 50 & ol der

2011 0 6 78 92 60 22 14 6 7 2011 0 0 5 7 5 2 4 2 1

2010 1 50 406 454 256 128 81 43 48 2010 2 5 28 21 34 15 9 6 4

2009 1 22 179 227 124 90 41 19 29 2009 1 4 13 19 21 20 14 6 5

2008 2 11 91 141 90 59 36 23 20 2008 0 0 8 14 8 10 9 3 3

2007 6 1 36 74 54 43 30 15 19 2007 3 0 4 16 12 14 6 5 3

1984-2006 21 14 121 300 360 321 249 170 157 1984-2006 18 33 187 209 190 140 84 30 41

2
 Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry February 2011

Modes of Transmission (1984-2011)

Figure 7. Proportion of Modes of HIV Transmission by Age-Group, 2011(n=311)
In 2011, 98% (306) were infected through sexual
contact and <1% (1) through blood transfusion; 1%
200

(4) had no reported data on mode of transmission

(Table 2). There were 281 males and 25 females 150

infected through sexual transmission. Their ages

ranged from 15-61 years old (median 28 years) [Figure 100

7].
50

Of the 6,326 with HIV from 1984 to 2011, 90% (5,712)

were infected through sexual contact, 1% (52) through
mother-to-child transmission and 3% (155) through
0

<7yo 7- 14yo 15- 17yo 18- 24yo 25-34yo 35-49yo 50&older

needle sharing among injecting drug users. Other
modes of transmission are listed in Table 2. No data is Blood Tr ansf usion - Female - - - - 1 -

- - - - - - -
available for 6% (384) of the cases. Cumulative data
Mat ernal t o Child

Inject ing Drug Use - Female - - - - - - -

shows 45% (2,546) were infected through heterosexual Inject ing Drug Use - Male - - - - - - -
contact, 35% (1,993) through homosexual contact, and Het er osexual Cont act - Female - - - 5 12 7 1

21% (1,173) through bisexual contact. From 2007 Het er osexual Cont act - Male - - - 6 18 8 4

there has been a shift in the predominant trend of Bisexual Cont act - - - 27 56 18 -

sexual transmission from heterosexual contact (25%) Homosexual Cont act - - 2 49 75 15 3

*No data available on Modes of Transmission for four (4) cases

to males having sex with other males (75%) [Figure 8].
Figure 8. Proportion of Types of Sexual Transmission, Jan 1984—Feb 2011
Table 2. Reported Mode of HIV Transmission 100%

Mode of Transmission Feb 2011 Jan—Feb 2011 Cumulative 90%

n=159 n=311 N=6,326 80%

70%
Sexual Contact 155 306 5,712
60%
Heterosexual contact 33 (21%) 61 (20%) 2, 546 (45%) 50%

Homosexual contact 70 (45%) 144 (47%) 1,993 (35%) 40%

Bisexual contact 52 (34%) 101 (33%) 1,173 (21%) 30%

Blood/Blood Products 1* 1 20 20%

Injecting Drug Use 0 0 155 10%

0%
Needle Prick Injury 0 0 3 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11

Mother-to-Child 0 0 52 1 7 24 24 16 19 35 30 41 47 58 56 81 82 138 114 93 128 129 129 123 131 193 139 160 216 271 61
Het er os ex ual

No Data Available 3 4 384 B i s ex ual 0 2 0 4 2 2 4 4 5 2 3 8 7 7 9 10 8 5 8 14 12 14 26 74 127 252 463 101

0 1 4 3 4 6 8 15 5 16 20 21 30 25 36 30 17 32 46 40 27 47 81 107 215 336 677 144

*Details for verification Homos ex ual

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)

In 2011, there were 36 HIV positive OFWs, comprising 12% of cases reported for the year [Figure 9]. Of these, 30
(83%) were males and 6 (17%) were females; all infected through sexual contact.
There were 1,558 HIV positive OFWs since 1984, comprising 25% of all reported cases [Figure 9]. Seventy-five percent
(1,175) were males. Ages ranged from 18 to 69 years (median 36 years). Sexual contact (96%) was the predominant
mode of transmission (Table 3). Eighty-three percent (1,291) were asymptomatic while 17% (267) were AIDS cases.
Figure 9. Number of OFWs Compared to Non-OFWs by Year (1984-2011*)
Table 3. Reported Mode of HIV Transmission Among OFWs
1400
Mode of Transmission Feb 2011 Jan– Feb 2011 Cumulative
n= 19 n= 36 N=1,558 1200

Sexual Transmission 19 36 1,496 1000

Heterosexual contact 7 (37%) 13 (36%) 1,014 (68%) 800

Homosexual contact 6 (32%) 10 (28%) 288 (19%) 600

Bisexual contact 6 (32%) 13 (36%) 194 (13%) 400

200
Blood/Blood Products 0 0 10
0
Injecting Drug Use 0 0 1 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11*

Needle Prick Injury 0 0 3 OFW 1 2 0 3 9 5 10 7 14 29 31 24 35 27 51 67 60 79 96 94 88 94 130 106 122 164 174 36

No Data Available 0 0 48 Non-OFW 1 8 29 35 23 34 56 78 58 73 87 92 119 90 138 91 63 95 88 99 111 116 179 236 406 671 1417 275

% of OFW 50% 20% 0% 8% 28% 13% 15% 8% 19% 28% 26% 21% 23% 23% 27% 42% 49% 45% 52% 49% 44% 45% 42% 31% 23% 20% 11% 12%

*Data includes January to February 2011 only. 3

 Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry February 2011

Program Related Information

Of the 159 HIV positive cases reported in February 2011, three were classified as AIDS. Seventy percent of the cases
received information on HIV prevention, services available for HIV cases, implications of an HIV positive result from
screening and confirmation. Their sources of information were one-on-one counseling, group counseling, pre-departure
orientation seminar (PDOS), pamphlets, videos, internet and seminars.

Blood Units Screened for HIV

Note: The following information is from the National Voluntary Blood Safety Program (NVBSP) which monitors blood safety of
donated blood. HIV reactive blood units are referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmation.
RITM is the National Reference Laboratory for the NVBSP.

From January to February 2011, 26 blood units were confirmed to be Table 4. Results of Blood Units Referred for HIV Confirmation
positive by the RITM.
Monthly Report 2011
For February 2011, out of the 67 blood units referred for HIV Blood units* Positive Indeterminate
confirmation, 15 units were positive for HIV and 50 units were nega- referred

tive for HIV; 2 units had indeterminate result [Table 4]. January 85 11 0
February 67 15 2

Figure 10. HIV Positive Blood Units by Month & Year (2008-2011) March

25 April
May
20 June
July
15
August
September
10
October

5 November
December
0
J an Feb M ar A pr M ay J un Jul A ug Sep Oc t Nov Dec T ot al Total for the year
152 26 2
10 7 4 8 8 2 9 6 7 7 4 2 74
(Jan –Feb only)
2008

2009 5 5 10 10 7 5 7 7 9 12 3 9 89 * One blood donor can donate more than one blood unit.
2010 9 12 15 15 9 17 11 6 10 20 11 11 146 ** These are HIV positive blood units, not donors. Donors of HIV positive blood units
2011 11 15 26 may or may not be in the HIV & AIDS Registry.

National HIV/AIDS & STI Philippine HIV & AIDS Registry

Strategic Information and
Surveillance Unit The Philippine HIV & AIDS Registry is the official record of the total number of
laboratory-confirmed HIV positive individuals, AIDS cases and deaths, and HIV
positive blood units in the Philippines. All individuals in the registry are confirmed
by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) at San Lazaro Hospital.
National Epidemiology Center, While all blood units are confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical
Department of Health, Bldg. 9, Medicine (RITM). Both are National Reference Laboratories (NRL) of the
San Lazaro Compound, Department of Health (DOH).
Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003 Philippines
Mandatory HIV testing is unlawful in the Philippines (RA 8504). The process of
Tel: +632 743 8301 local 1900 to 1907 reporting to the Registry is as follows: All blood samples from accredited HIV
Fax: +632 743 6076 / 743 1937 testing facilities that are screened HIV reactive are sent to SACCL (individuals)
Email: HIVepicenter@gmail.com or RITM (blood units) for confirmation. Confirmed HIV positive individuals and
Website: http://www.doh.gov.ph blood units are reported to the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC), and are
recorded in the Registry.

The Registry is a passive surveillance system. Except for HIV confirmation by the
NRL, all other data submitted to the Registry are secondary and cannot be veri-
fied. An example would be an individual’s reported place of residence. The
Registry is unable to determine if this reported address is where the person got
infected, or where the person lived after being infected, or where the person is
presently living, or whether the address is valid. This limitation has major implica-
tions to data interpretation. Thus, readers are cautioned to carefully weigh the
data and consider other sources of information prior to arriving at conclusions.