Hongkong Post announced today (August 30) that with the gradual scaling up of air capacity provided by airlines, airmail services (including air letter and packet services) to Brazil, Cyprus, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Mauriti… read more
A meeting of the Assessment Committee for the Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations was convened this morning (August 30). This was the f… read more
A total of 125 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the second quarter of 2022, taking the cumulative total of HIV infections reported locally to 11 442 since 1984.
Of the 125 additional cases, involving 103 males and 22 females, 64 (51.2 per cent) acquired the infection via homosexual or bisexual contact, 27 (21.6 per cent) via heterosexual contact, and one (0.8 per cent) via blood or blood product transfusion outside Hong Kong. The routes of transmission of the remaining 33 cases were yet to be determined due to incomplete information.
The new cases were mainly reported by three major sources: public hospitals, clinics and laboratories (54 cases); social hygiene clinics under the DH (29 cases), and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories (17 cases). Also, 86 of the HIV-infected people (69.9 per cent) have already received HIV specialist services at the DH or the Hospital Authority. A further two cases passed away at the time of reporting.
Twenty-three new cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in this quarter, of which nine cases (39.1 per cent) were attributed to homosexual or bisexual contact, and 11 cases (47.8 per cent) were related to heterosexual contact. In this quarter, the most common AIDS-defining illness was Pneumocystis pneumonia, a kind of chest infection. Since 1985, a cumulative total of 2 361 confirmed AIDS cases has been reported in Hong Kong.
Regarding an unusual increase of new HIV infections among female sex workers (FSWs) or females engaging in commercial sex, mostly in Yau Tsim Mong District and Sham Shui Po District, observed since August 2021, which was reported by the CHP last month, the CHP has been actively following up on the surge. Additional fieldwork aiming to provide HIV testing/self-testing and enhance prevention for FSWs and their clients near related venues in the two districts have been arranged. The CHP also made phone calls to known FSWs of Social Hygiene Service and encouraged them to come forward for blood tests since late June. As at August 26, over 3 000 calls were made and more than 900 clients were successfully reached with 135 persons tested. Outreach promotion had reached over 2 000 FSWs in venues with 160 persons tested. No reports of HIV positive results were received. Posters promoting the DH’s AIDS hotline/website (www.27802211.com) and the HIV self-testing booking website (dh-hivst.com.hk/en/self-test) were also placed at public places in the two districts as efforts to promote awareness had been continued.
Reviewing the latest HIV/AIDS situation in Hong Kong, a spokesman for the CHP said, “Sexual transmission remained the major mode of HIV transmission. Members of the public should use condoms consistently and properly to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. HIV is the cause of AIDS. Early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs effectively prevents progression to AIDS and other complications. Lifelong antiretroviral treatment is indicated for all people with HIV, and the treatment remarkably improves their health and survival. Moreover, infected people who achieve sustained viral suppression to an undetectable level with treatment will not transmit the virus through sex, i.e. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
“Members of the public with a history of unsafe sex should take an HIV antibody test early. Key populations with a higher risk of infection should undergo regular HIV screening. They can visit the DH’s AIDS Hotline website or call AIDS Hotline (2780 2211) for a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test, or visit the DH’s HIV self-test website to order a free self-test kit. HIV-positive people should seek specialist care and HIV treatment as soon as possible.”
Since 2006, the CHP has been regularly conducting community-based HIV prevalence and risk behavioural surveys. The HIV Prevalence and Risk behavioural Survey of Men who have sex with men and Transgenders (PRiSMTG) 2022 survey, which targets both men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) people, has commenced on June 8 and is expected to last until end-December. MSM and TG people are being recruited via websites, social media platforms, mobile applications, venues serving sexual minorities, and AIDS organisations. Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire on an anonymous, confidential and voluntary basis, and submit urine specimens for HIV antibody testing. The CHP appeals to members of the MSM and TG communities to participate in the survey. Details of the survey can be accessed from the designated website (www.prismtg-hk.com).
The public may also visit the following pages for more information on HIV/AIDS: the Virtual AIDS Office (www.aids.gov.hk), the Red Ribbon Centre (www.rrc.gov.hk), the AIDS Hotline website (www.27802211.com), the Gay Men HIV Information website (www.21171069.gov.hk) and the HIV self-test website (dh-hivst.com.hk/en/self-test). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The Hospital Authority today (August 30) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members … read more
​The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 18 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (August 30).
The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
In light of the implementation of mandatory use of the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application when entering government premises, all persons are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter temporary heat shelters, except for exempted persons (including persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and persons without smartphones). All exempted persons are required to complete a prescribed form to register their personal particulars, contact phone number and the date and time of entry. The staff will verify the information provided.
For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
———————
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
——————
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
————————–
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung –
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block, 5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun –
Wu Shan Road Community Hall
101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more