The Department of Health of Hong Kong Thursday revealed that 111 people tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the cause of AIDS, in the second quarter of 2007 in Hong Kong.

This new figure has brought the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,400 in the city.

Of the 111 new HIV cases reported, 36 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 38 via homosexual or bisexual contact and 10 via injection of drug. The routes of transmission of the remaining 27 cases were undetermined due to insufficient data.

Speaking at a press conference, the consultant of the Department of Health Dr. Wong Ka-hing said one more cluster of eight reported cases of HIV-1 Subtype B, a type of HIV infection with similar gene sequencing, was detected this quarter.

According to Dr. Wong, cases of the newly found cluster were reported between July, 2006, and May, 2007 and all contracted the virus through homosexual and bisexual contacts.

The detection of this new cluster echoed the rising number of reported HIV infections in men who have sex with men. It suggested the presence of a local HIV transmission in Hong Kong.

As for the existing two clusters which were found earlier, one has expanded from 53 to 66 HIV infections and the other remained at 13 cases as of June this year.

Reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, Dr. Wong said the predominant route of HIV transmission in this quarter remained to be sexual contact.

There were 18 new cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) reported in the second quarter, bringing the total number of confirmed AIDS cases to 893.

In this quarter, the most commonly presenting AIDS defining illness was Pneumocystics Pneumonia.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)