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.