Publications - Released in 2016
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), and in the absence of treatment, approximately half of the HIV-infected people will progress to AIDS in 10 years’ time. The main routes of HIV transmission are: sexual, injecting drug use, blood-borne and from mother to child. Hong Kong’s first HIV cases were reported in 1984. Similar to the trend in many other developed countries, the early HIV infections mainly arose from blood or blood products transfusion. Later sexual transmission, including heterosexual and homosexual contacts, became the commonest route of HIV transmission. It accounted for 76% of all reported HIV cases in Hong Kong as at 30 June 2015.
Monitoring and understanding the current HIV/AIDS situation is crucial for the planning and implementation of prevention and care. HIV/AIDS surveillance comprises a framework of systematic and consistent monitoring, encompassing the key components of collection, collation and analysis of HIV/AIDS data, followed by the interpretation and dissemination of the relevant information. Timely information derived from this HIV/AIDS surveillance is indispensable for developing effective prevention and control programmes.