Manila, May 15
The Philippines recorded 5,101 new HIV cases and 145 HIV/AIDS-related deaths from January to March 2025, according to data released by the Department of Health (DOH).
Of the newly reported cases, 4,849, or 95 per cent, were male, while 252, or 5 per cent, were female. Nearly 80 per cent of the cases occurred among individuals aged 15 to 34, underscoring the growing prevalence of HIV infections among younger populations.
The average number of monthly cases during the first quarter of 2025 stood at 1,700, representing a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The DOH reported that nearly 96 per cent of new infections in the first quarter were transmitted through sexual contact, with male-to-male sexual contact accounting for the majority of these cases, news agency reported.
Between 2020 and March 2025, the Philippines recorded 4,146 HIV-related deaths. Since 2016, the country has reported over 500 deaths annually among diagnosed HIV cases, the DOH noted.
The first HIV case in the Philippines was reported in 1984. Since then, a total of 148,831 HIV infections and 9,221 deaths have been recorded nationwide.
According to the World Health Organisation, HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection.