MANILA (Xinhua) — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday expressed concern over the rising number of newly diagnosed advanced HIV disease (AHD) in the country.
The latest data from DOH showed that there have been 40,934 reported cases of AHD in the country, representing 30 percent of all cumulative cases since 1984. Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the number of AHD cases “indicates late detection, posing severe health risks.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines AHD as “CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents.”
CD4 cell count is a laboratory test that measures the number of CD4 T-cells.
The DOH also said that 464 HIV deaths had been recorded from January to August 2024, of which 28 occurred in August alone. The majority of the deaths occurred among males aged 25 to 34 years old, with 53 percent of them being caused by complications due to being immunocompromised or having AHD.
According to the DOH, late diagnosis has contributed to the rising HIV deaths, totaling 8,246 deaths cumulatively since 1984.
Recent DOH data showed that the Philippines has experienced the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia and the Pacific region. In 2023, the DOH said there were 48 newly diagnosed cases daily, a significant increase from 13 daily cases in 2013.
“This number went to as high as 58 per day in the second quarter of 2024,” the DOH added.
Furthermore, the DOH noted that diagnosed HIV cases are getting younger, with the predominant age group shifting from 35-49 years old in 2002 to 2005 to 25-34 years old starting 2006 onwards.
“Younger people are now more at risk, so parents must engage their children more on this health concern,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
