According to recent reports released by the Hong Kong Center for Health Protection, there were 435 new HIV cases in Hong Kong in 2008, which is the highest-ever recorded in a single year.

Of the 435 infections, 131 people acquired the disease through heterosexual contact while another 145 were infected through homosexual or bisexual contact.

Center for Health Protection Consultant Wong Ka-hing said sexual transmission continued to be the major mode of HIV spread, according to Xinhua news agency.
The report followed repeated warnings from Hong Kong health officials about rising rates of infection among the gay community in the city of 7 million.
Earlier this year, a representative at the Hong Kong’s Department of Health revealed that the authorities have been struggling during the past few years to fight with a HIV/AIDS epidemic among gay population. He also added that the government would prioritize the funding of awareness programs in order to particularly protect the young population.

The virus that has killed more than 25 million people since being identified in 1981, including 330,000 children is spread in blood, semen, breast milk and other bodily fluids. Studies have shown that people who know they are infected with HIV are more likely to avoid spreading the disease. Early HIV testing and treatment procedures which provide life-extending drugs have proved to be life-saving for newborn babies affected by the disease.

More efforts are needed to fight the stigma against HIV/AIDS, which is fuelled by misconceptions. Many people are victims of discrimination only because they fall into one of these categories: homosexuals, prostitutes or intravenous drug users. The truth is that eighty percent of HIV sufferers are heterosexuals. Many of them look healthy, go to work, to school and have a family.