A total of 73 people tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody in the second quarter, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 2,384, the Center for Health Protection of Hong Kong government said here Tuesday.

Thirteen new Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases were reported, with 62 percent related to heterosexual contact. This brings to 689 the total number of confirmed AIDS cases reported since 1985, it said.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Chan Kam-tim said HIV is spread through sexual contact, needle-sharing among drug users and from infected mothers to their babies.

According to the Center for Health Protection, of the 73 new HIV cases reported, 39 acquired the infection via heterosexual contact, 16 via homosexual or bisexual contact and four through intravenous drug use.

The routes of transmission of the remaining 14 cases were undetermined due to inadequate data.

The most commonly presenting AIDS-defining illness in the quarter was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Of the 2,384 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 79 percent have acquired the infection through sexual contact. Of those, 70 percent resulted from heterosexual transmission. Seventy-four infections have occurred among injection drug users.

Source: Xinhua