A TOTAL of 3,400 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in the country in the first quarter of 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Friday.
In a statement, the DOH said the latest count includes 82 reported deaths.
In March alone, new HIV infections rose by 1,224, including 12 reported deaths, the health department added.
Most of the fresh cases or 81 percent were among men who have sex with men (MSM), while youth aged 15 to 24 made up almost a third with 31 percent of these new cases.
“Of these newly diagnosed cases, ages ranged from less than one year old to 66 years old with a median of 28,” the DOH said.
In terms of overall numbers, the health department said 129,772 diagnosed cases of HIV have been recorded in the country from 1984 to March 2024.
The majority of the count, or 82 percent, involved MSMs, two percent were people who inject drugs, 0.2 percent were females engaging in transactional sex, and 0.3 percent were children.
Seventy-four percent of the total number of infected with the virus were recorded in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas.
