New Hiv Stats / Article.

[Bruce]

‘Bareback’ orgies raise HIV cases to record levels

By Philip C. Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
4:41 am | Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

 

9 350 72

‘ALWAYS CARRY, USE CONDOMS’  Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said the DOH recorded 380 new HIV cases in January—the highest increase since the government began monitoring HIV/AIDS cases in 1984—even as many sexually-active Filipinos continue to avoid having themselves tested for the virus. He urged sexually-active Filipinos to always carry and use condoms, adding that unsafe sexual practices like “bareback orgies” among men who have sex with men (MSM) were to blame for the worsening HIV situation in the country. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippines posted its highest ever increase in the number of new HIV infections in January and the number is expected to increase even further in the near future, a Department of Health (DOH) official said on Friday.

Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said the DOH recorded 380 new HIV cases in January—the highest increase since the government began monitoring HIV/AIDS cases in 1984—even as many sexually-active Filipinos continue to avoid having themselves tested for the virus.

Tayag urged sexually-active Filipinos to always carry and use condoms, adding that unsafe sexual practices like “bareback orgies” among men who have sex with men (MSM) were to blame for the worsening HIV situation in the country.

Highest in history

“Our January report showed that there were 380 new cases that were reported. This is the highest in our history,” Tayag said in a news briefing.

“This means that from an average of nine new cases every day last year, we now have 12 new cases every day. So, our total (of HIV/AIDS) cases has reached 12,082 since 1984,” he added.

In its report, the DOH said that the 380 news cases was 79 percent higher than the 212 reported in January last year. The 380 cases also included 37 overseas Filipino workers.

“Most of the cases (93 percent) were males. The median age was 27 years (age range: 17-62 years).

MSM to blame

The 20-29 year (61 percent) age-group had the most number of cases,” the DOH said.

It said the bulk of the new HIV cases came from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, the Davao region, and Central Visayas.

Of the 380 new cases, 376 were infected through sexual contact while four were due to needle sharing among injecting drug users.

“Males having sex with other males (82 percent) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (93 percent) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting,” the DOH said.

Tayag said the DOH was saddened by these new figures, pointing out that the Philippines was one of only nine countries where HIV continues to increase by “more than 25 percent.”

“That is why we say that (the number of new cases) will increase further. We are now running out of time because one of the Millennium Development Goals is to reverse this trend by 2015. We might not achieve that,” Tayag said.

He said that it was saddening that many of the new cases were aged 20 to 29 years old, which is considered to be their “productive years.”

Like an umbrella

“We urge everyone … if you cannot abstain (from sex), maintain your relationship inside marriage or be mutually faithful, use a condom to save your life,” Tayag said.

“Don’t believe those who say that condoms have holes and you cannot benefit from them. And always carry it with you,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that when you have one always, you are a bad person. It’s like carrying an umbrella. If you have an umbrella, it does not mean that you want it to rain. You only want to have one just in case it does,” he added.

Tayag said that the number of HIV cases was rising not just because more and more Filipinos were having themselves tested for the virus. He said many still have unprotected sex while the gay community continues to suffer from discrimination.

“Our surveys have been consistent that there are still many who do not have themselves tested … The problem is (unsafe sexual practices). We have monitored many (in the MSM community) who join orgies,” Tayag said.

“They get participants through social media and they do it in their homes. They don’t use condoms … They have a term for it … bareback,” he added.

‘Barebacking orgies’

Jonas Bagas, executive director of the gay civil society group TLF Share Foundation, said the sharp increase in new HIV cases should not surprise health officials.

“They should have anticipated this, not because of the so-called ‘barebacking orgies’ but because of the orgy of ignorance and the rejection of evidence. The persistence of unprotected sex is the manifestation of the problem, not the root of it,” Bagas said.
- See more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/367377/bareback-orgies-raise-hiv-cases-to-record-levels#sthash.wAfLfly1.dpuf

[Old55]

Great topic Bruce, if only they would encourage condom use for everyone. It seems to me the powers to be want to condemn HIV to homosexuals and intravenous drug users and exclude the general population.

[Bruce]

Great topic Bruce, if only they would encourage condom use for everyone. It seems to me the powers to be want to condemn HIV to homosexuals and intravenous drug users and exclude the general population.

 My opinion is the Phils under reports. One of the things that people do not realize about the rates world wide is that this is a disease spread INTENTIONALLY 99.% of the time by people. Now by intentionally, I mean that precautions are available but not used. I do not mean malious conduct.

 

While in many countries the rate of new infections is said to be level or in some cases falling, this is misleading because the true reason is not being disclosed. And that is the individuals who have multiple partners with un protected sex have already died or are so sick they are no longer sexually active. Credit is being given to educational (funded) programs and public awareness et al. But this is simply not true. All chasing the $$$.

 

This is not the situation in Phils where the rate is growing. What helps Phils is that, even with air travel, there is a time and cost barrier to going there.

 

The true greatest spread of STDs and related ills are alcohol and drug use. People do some really stupid things while on drugs or drunk and when not on  on drugs or drunk if shown a video of what they did while drunk, they are shocked that they even thought about or maybe did not think at all before they undertook that activity.

 

It has always been amusing to me that people have sex with others when drunk that they would not even walk across the street to say hello too when not drunk!

Edited March 3, 2013 by Bruce

[Call me bubba]

was there a story about 12-18 months ago of a CHILD-girl(under 14yo) who was infected w/the HIV virus?

 also here is a story,(link only sorry,actually small part) about  a HIV cure

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21651225

 

A baby girl in the US born with HIV appears to have been cured after very early treatment

with standard drug therapy, researchers say.

The Mississippi child is now two-and-a-half years old and

has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection.

More testing needs to be done to see if the treatment would have the same effect on other children.

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

In 2007, Timothy Ray Brown became the first person in the world believed to have recovered from HIV.

His infection was eradicated through an elaborate treatment for leukaemia t

hat involved the destruction of his immune system and a stem cell transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation that resists HIV infection.

In contrast, the case of the Mississippi baby involved a cocktail of widely available drugs

already used to treat HIV infection in infants.

It suggests the treatment wiped out HIV before it could form hideouts in the body.

[Bruce]

The article about the baby girl is somewhat misleading as it has no real bearing on anyone who is not a newborn baby. Also, while the method used worked on her, for it to work on other newborn babies, it would take a forcefull effort to make (MAKE) the neonatal docs try it on a wide spread population. Until such time as it is written up as a standard protocol to follow AND if a doc did not follow the 'standard protocol' for a baby born to an HIV + mother s/he would be sued, it will not be a wide spread treatment. Althought docs will call it an exciting new option to look at.... not all babies born to HIV+ mothers develop HIV and that will be used a a way to withhold treatment.

 

While it is a 'no brainer' for the average person to see this... docs are really resistant to change.

Edited March 4, 2013 by Bruce

[Dave Hounddriver]

I question the efficiency of condoms in Philippines.  Suppose an individual was reusing the same condom (Yes it happens frequently here) then would it even mattter if it was rinsed out?

[lyno 47]

What no vulcanizing patches on the condoms.

[Bruce]

I question the efficiency of condoms in Philippines.  Suppose an individual was reusing the same condom (Yes it happens frequently here) then would it even mattter if it was rinsed out?

 

Well I believe the Brits have a saying that applies.... 'Double up on the Durex, Lads!'

[Jack Peterson]

 Suppose an individual was reusing the same condom (Yes it happens frequently here) then would it even mattter if it was rinsed out?

 

 

I read somewhere, that the great " Casanova" used a goat ( or Sheep ) bladder as his condom, not sure if this is true but it makes sense to me and would be washable. :unsure:

 

 

 

:)  :tiphat:

[Bruce]

 Suppose an individual was reusing the same condom (Yes it happens frequently here) then would it even mattter if it was rinsed out?

 

 

I read somewhere, that the great " Casanova" used a goat ( or Sheep ) bladder as his condom, not sure if this is true but it makes sense to me and would be washable. :unsure:

 

 

 

:)  :tiphat:

 

NO NO AND NO!

 

Sheep intestine was  actually available as a condom prior to the HIV situation. However...... the intestine, Mine, Yours and said Sheeps are POROUS......

 

While the sperm are too large to pass though, hence OK for birth control, the HIV particles are much smaller and do pass through.

 

If you come across 'natural' condoms... IF any are to be found... take a pass on them.

 

Now.... for bonus points and since we are on the subject of sheep et al...... Does anyone know why Levi's 510 button down jeans are the FAVORITE jeans in Australia and Wyoming in the US????

 

 

 

 

Because....... NOTHING like the sound of a zipper going down...................... makes sheep stampede faster....... :hystery: