A total of 97 cases of HIV infection were reported in the third quarter of the year, the Centre for Health Protection announced today.

Of the new cases, 80 were males and 17 were females, bringing the total number of reported HIV infections to 11,539 since 1984.

Forty-one people acquired the virus through homosexual or bisexual contact, 26 via heterosexual contact, and one via drug use involving injections. The routes of transmission of the remaining cases have yet to be determined.

There were 12 new AIDS cases reported in the quarter, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 2,373 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.

Regarding the 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 which has been observed since August 2021, the centre said it is actively following up on the surge.

Additional fieldwork from July to October this year in the two districts had been completed. Outreach promotion reached over 4,600 FSWs and 224 of them underwent HIV testing.

From late June to early September, 926 FSWs were also successfully contacted by phone and 138 of them were tested.

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

Meanwhile, the Advisory Council on AIDS published the Recommended HIV/AIDS Strategies for Hong Kong (2022-2027), a blueprint for a co-ordinated and consolidated response on local HIV prevention and control. Click here for details.