AIDS cases in RP rises to 510

AIDS cases in RP rises to 510

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' reported cases of infection
with the deadly AIDS virus rose to 510 with 16 new cases this
April, the Health Department said here yesterday.

The department's AIDS monitoring unit said that of the 510
found positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which
causes AIDS, at least 143 had developed the fatal disease and 83
had died.

Of those found infected, 264 are believed to have caught the
virus from heterosexual sex, 90 from homosexual sex, eight
through mother to infant transmission, five from tainted blood
products and three from sharing of syringes.

The causes of infection of another 140 remain unknown, the
department added.

Researchers with the department have estimated that 15,000 to
20,000 people in this country may be infected with AIDS but
Health Secretary Juan Flavier has said they are assuming that the
number of AIDS infections is 100 times higher than the number of
cases actually reported.