The 73 cases comprised 53 men and 20 women.

Thirteen new Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases were reported, with 62% related to heterosexual contact. This brings to 689 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Chan Kam-tim said HIV is spread through sexual contact, needle-sharing among drug users and from infected mothers to their babies.

Of the 73 new HIV cases reported, 39 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 16 via homosexual or bisexual contact and four through intravenous drug use.

The routes of transmission of the remaining 14 cases were undetermined due to inadequate data.

The most commonly presenting AIDS-defining illness in the quarter was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

79% HIV infections acquired through sexual contact

Of the 2,384 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 79% have acquired the infection through sexual contact. Of those, 70% resulted from heterosexual transmission. Seventy-four infections have occurred among injection drug users.

The newly diagnosed cases were reported by four major sources: public hospitals and clinics (33), private hospitals and clinics (9), social hygiene clinics (12) and the Department of Health AIDS Counselling Service (13). Cumulatively, the four sources have accounted for 43.4%, 22.4%, 15.6% and 13.3% of all reported infections.

Of the newly reported cases, 49 (67.1%) have received care at the Department of Health or the Hospital Authority's HIV specialist services. Last year, 74% of the reported cases attended these services where effective antiretroviral treatment is offered according to clinical indication.

Free, anonymous, confidential counselling available

The public can request free, anonymous and confidential HIV counselling by calling the AIDS hotline, 2780 2211. HIV antibody testing may also be arranged.

For more details, visit www.aids.gov.hk.