Twenty-five new AIDS cases were confirmed in the year's second quarter, bringing Hong Kong's total since 1985 to 824.

Announcing the figures today, the Centre for Health Protection said 44% of the new cases were related to heterosexual contact, while 71 men and 19 women tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 3,004.

Centre for Health Protection Consultant Dr Wong Ka-hing said the predominant route of HIV transmission is sexual contact. Of the 90 new HIV cases reported, 22 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 26 homosexual or bisexual and 13 via drug injection. The routes of transmission for the remaining 29 cases are undetermined.

The most commonly presenting AIDS defining illness is chest infection pneumocystic pneumonia, closely followed by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

76% of cases acquired infection through sex

Of the 3,004 cumulative total HIV infections since 1984, about 76% of patients acquired infection through sex, with 67% of them heterosexual cases.

The newly diagnosed cases of this quarter were reported by public hospitals and clinics (45 cases), private hospitals and clinics (17), social hygiene clinics (14) and the Department of Health's AIDS Counselling Service (9). Cumulatively, the four sources have accounted for 45.1%, 21.6%, 14.6% and 12.7% of all reported infections.

Of the newly reported HIV cases in the second quarter, 73.3% received care at the department or Hospital Authority's HIV specialist services. For cases reported last year, 76% attended these services where effective antiretroviral treatment was offered according to clinical indication.

People can request free, anonymous and confidential HIV counselling by calling the AIDS hotline 2780 2211. Free HIV antibody testing can also be arranged on this hotline. More information on AIDS and HIV is available here.