HIV rate rises
sharply among gay men in Hong Kong

Health officials in Hong Kong this week released data on new HIV infections occurring in the region from July to September, which show that newly diagnosed infections among gay men nearly doubled from the level reported in the previous quarter, Agence France-Presse reports. The Hong Kong health department recorded 91 new HIV infections during the quarter, of which 32 were transmitted through unprotected gay sex. During the previous quarter, 17 cases related to gay sex were reported. About two thirds of all the new HIV infections reported were acquired sexually, with most of the remainder linked with intravenous drug use. The report also said that 17 new AIDS diagnoses were reported in Hong Kong between July and September, down from 20 new cases reported in the previous quarter. (Advocate.com)