Silent epidemic on the rise

Jade Pillosis

December 15, 2023

The cases of HIV in the Philippines have been increasing alarmingly, for the past 12 years since 2010 the numbers rapidly rose up to 411% every year. Making the Philippines the country with the fastest-growing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Asia Pacific region.  

According to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, the latest figures show that HIV infections doubled this year with 50 cases per day, compared to last year’s daily average of 22. Among the numbers are teenagers as young as 15 to adults aged 24 who make up 47% of the figures. 

The quick change in numbers could be attributed to a new strain of the virus according to Herbosa. In 2022, a group of researchers led by Chris Wyant discovered a new HIV Variant named Subtype B which could cause a more severe infection. 

Among the numbers are pregnant women, as stated by the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SMPC). They discovered 16 cases of pregnant women with HIV, as opposed to 12 cases last year. HIV can be transmitted from the mother’s placenta which can affect the unborn child. 

In the Ilocos region, DOH has recorded 296 HIV cases from this year’s January to July. As per Dr. Rheuel Bobis, the Ilocos DOH Infectious Disease Cluster Head, the “most common” reason of the transmission among the recorded cases is unprotected sex on men having sex with men and women in the field of sex work. 

Herbosa stated that he and Vice President Sara Duterte had a meeting where they addressed interventions in health literacy implemented in schools.

In 2017, DOH has declared HIV as an epidemic in the country.—OVERTURN