Singapore - Singapore's health ministry is concerned about the increasing number of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases being detected in the late stage of HIV-infection. It is also concerned that 27 women tested positive between January and June this year, compared to 30 in the whole of last year.
Over half of the 218 cases diagnosed in the first half of this year were picked up from medical screening during blood donations and pregnancy tests, according to a report by the Straits Times on Saturday.
The report said that 129 cases of the 218 new cases were infected through heterosexual activity. Sex between men accounted for 33 per cent of new cases, according to the report citing figures from the Health Ministry.
Overall, the HIV infection rates remain stable. The ministry recorded 378 new cases in the first 10 months of this year, saying the yearly total would be about the same as 456 cases recorded in 2008.
Anonymous testing is also increasing in Singapore. Between January and October, 8,373 opted for anonymous testing, 20 per cent more than the 6,983 tested during the same period of last year.
Health clinics tested 129,966 people in the first nine months of this year, compared to 124,559 the year before.
