A total of 125 additional cases of HIV infection were reported in the second quarter of the year, the Centre for Health Protection announced today.

Of the new cases, 103 were males and 22 were females, bringing the total number of reported HIV infections to 11,442 since 1984.

Sixty-four people acquired the virus through homosexual or bisexual contact, 27 via heterosexual contact, and one via blood or blood product transfusion outside Hong Kong. The routes of transmission for the remaining cases have yet to be determined.

There were 23 new AIDS cases reported in the quarter, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 2,361 since 1985.

The centre said that sex remains the major mode of HIV transmission and people should use condoms consistently and properly to reduce the infection risk.

Meanwhile, the centre has observed since August 2021 an unusual increase of new HIV infections among female sex workers (FSWs) or females engaging in commercial sex, mostly in Yau Tsim Mong and Sham Shui Po districts.

Additional fieldwork aiming to provide HIV testing or self-testing services and enhance prevention has been arranged for FSWs and their clients near related venues in the two districts.

The centre also made phone calls to known FSWs under its social hygiene service and encouraged them to take blood tests.

As at August 26 this year, more than 900 FSWs were successfully reached via phone calls and 135 of them were tested.

Regarding the outreach promotion, over 2,000 FSWs were reached with 160 people tested.

No reports of HIV positive results were received, the centre said.