The Department of Health raises concern after recording 6,703 HIV cases from January to April 2025, an average of 56 new cases a day, 44% higher than the same time last year.
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/hiv-cases-january-april-2025/
00:01Human immunodeficiency virus infection cases in the Philippines are on the rise.
00:06The Department of Health raises concern after recording 6,703 HIV cases from January to April 2025, an average of 56 new cases a day.
00:17This is 44% higher than the same time last year.
00:21Most of the new cases were among people aged 15 to 25, with a 500% increase.
00:27Health Secretary Chidoro Herbosa says the country now has the highest number of new HIV cases in the Western Pacific region, leading the DOH to ask President Marcos to declare a national public health emergency.
00:40The whole of society and the whole of government can help us in this campaign to reduce new cases of HIV.
00:48As of April 2025, there were around 150,000 people living with HIV in the Philippines.
00:54Most cases are now found in younger people, half are aged 25 to 34.
00:59The DOH said HIV is still mainly spread through sexual contact, with about 83% of cases since 1984 involving males having sexual intercourse with males.
01:10However, non-profit organization HIV and AIDS Support House notes that the increase may be attributed to more people getting tested.
