Hong Kong HIV Surveillance Report - 2005 Update

Hong Kong locates in Asia, the new burning place of HIV infection, but still enjoying a low-prevalence of HIV infection. While sexual transmission was the predominant route of transmission in Hong Kong, an outbreak in injecting drug users was worried as taking reference from the experience in other Asian areas. Various public health measures have kept the prevalence of drug users at exceptional low level, as comparing with our neighbouring cities. This year, an increasing trend was detected in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Hong Kong. The report analysed the attributes of the increase of HIV infections in MSM observed. A HIV-1 Subtype B cluster of similar gene sequencing affecting 20 individuals, mostly MSM, was firstly detected in Hong Kong. It signified the increased risk of local transmission of HIV among MSM.