New HIV infections among Singapore residents up 10%

[HendryTan]

New HIV infections among Singapore residents up 10% after hitting two-decade low

1 Dec 2023
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-newly-diagnosed-hiv-cases-residents-january-october-2023-3958911

SINGAPORE: Singapore saw 10 per cent more newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among residents in the first 10 months of 2023 than it did during the same period last year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Dec 1).

A total of 188 cases were reported between January and October, MOH said in an update on the HIV and AIDS situation in the country.

 

This comes after three consecutive years of declining cases, with last year’s number – 202 cases – being the lowest since 1998. There were 250 new HIV infections in 2021, 261 in 2020, and 323 in 2019.

 

Of the 104 cases reported between January and June, 97 per cent were male and 48 per cent had a late-stage HIV infection at the time of their diagnosis, which is 11 per cent lower than the figure for the same period last year.

 

Twenty-seven per cent were aged between 30 and 39, while 21 per cent were 40 to 49 years old and 23 per cent were 50 to 59 years old.

 

Sexual intercourse remained the main mode of HIV transmission, accounting for 96 per cent of the cases reported in the first half of the year, MOH said.

 

Heterosexuals accounted for 28 per cent of the 104 cases, while 68 per cent of the cases occurred in men who have sex with men. This includes men who reported sexual activity with men and women, who accounted for 4 per cent of cases.

One case occurred as a result of intravenous drug use.

 

More than half of the newly reported cases – 58 per cent – were detected during the course of medical care, of which a greater proportion were at a late stage of HIV infection compared with other modes of detection, MOH said.

Another 13 per cent were detected through routine programmatic HIV screening, while 18 per cent were detected through self-initiated HIV screening. The rest were detected through other forms of screening.

 

A higher proportion of men who have sex with men had their infections detected via self-initiated HIV screening compared to heterosexuals, at 25 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.

 

In a public advisory, MOH said that every adult should get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime regardless of risk factors.

“Individuals who engage in high-risk sexual behaviours should go for regular HIV testing every three to six months,” the ministry added.

 

MOH also said that knowing one’s HIV status enables one to receive treatment early and prevent others from getting infected.

“With early and effective treatment, persons living with HIV can lead lives no different from others,” the ministry said.

“Although there is no cure for HIV, persons living with HIV can be treated with antiretroviral therapy which is effective at controlling the infection.

 

“This also provides an opportunity to protect their partners from infection as people living with HIV who are on regular treatment and have an undetectable viral load have practically no risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners.”

 

It noted that 94 per cent of Singapore’s residents who are living with HIV and undergoing treatment have achieved an undetectable viral load.

 

MOH added that the most effective way to avoid contracting HIV is to remain faithful to one’s spouse or partner and to avoid casual sex or sex with sex workers.

 

The ministry also strongly advised those who have multiple sexual partners or engage in casual or commercial sex to use condoms consistently and correctly to reduce their risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

 

“In addition, preventive measures like HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis are highly effective when used as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy,” MOH said.

 

[egal]

so camsex is the best sex, lol

[auscent]

Disproportionately more gay male sex contracted HIV than heterosexuals.

[egal]

r we surprised

[feilyxnixx]

Not surprising to see this news. 
Especially with the amount of dumb ppl (which i noticed quite recently the surge , both in grindr and this forum) who wants to play raw but refuses to go on prep.

 

Friends , do YOUR own protection BEFORE asking others if they did theirs. Strangers (myself included) CANNOT be trusted. >_>...

[Sweetie Pie]

1 hour ago, feilyxnixx said:

Not surprising to see this news. 
Especially with the amount of dumb ppl (which i noticed quite recently the surge , both in grindr and this forum) who wants to play raw but refuses to go on prep.

 

Friends , do YOUR own protection BEFORE asking others if they did theirs. Strangers (myself included) CANNOT be trusted. >_>...

If individuals are really hungry for RAW, please go buy a pack of sashimi to satisfy your crave.   When it comes to sex these days. If you do not contract HIV, you may contract another infection that burns.  Nothing is safe regardless blowjob or fuckjob.   The article referenced Singapore residents, which implies that foreigners who live here are also included. Although the news reported on HOW HIV is spread, it stopped short of speculating  WHERE the source. When a tourist  approaches you for sex, be wary of them because we have no idea where they are from or what medical condition they are in before they trick you into going to bed.   In order to have a more accurate data, I think it would be helpful if they reported Singaporeans and foreigners separately for clearer picture on HIV infection, but I think they veil it for a "reason".  

[Guest Prepared]

now w medical adv, and w Prep , why the increase?
Everyone assumed all used prep?

[egal]

even with prep, it does not mean it will not spread hiv.

 

plus, prep is not cheap, i think, so the assumption everyone who plays is on prep is dead wrong

[singalion]

The sad things seems after reading the article that most of the guys were in late stage HIV...

 

Note that according to the articles online, there is a stage where recovery to undetectable will be nearly impossible because your infection has grown too much.

 

Even that mentioned age range above 30 (72%) means that you guys still don't go or do HIV tests regularly.

Such life style is really a bit too risky.

 

Don't regret when it is too late.

 

Read on the typical symptoms but better is even just to get tested on HIV every 6 months or the minimum once a year.

 

The earlier you are aware, you avoid running into life threatening stage, where recovery is difficult or in the worst no longer possible, because your body has been severly impacted by the virus.

 

 

On late stage:

Because HIV has severely damaged the immune system, the body cannot fight off opportunistic infections. (Opportunistic infections are infections and infection-related cancers that occur more frequently or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems.)

 

 

 

[Sweetie Pie]

3 hours ago, singalion said:

The sad things seems after reading the article that most of the guys were in late stage HIV...

Due to denial, worry, or fear of the consequences, some put off getting tested. As a result, they held out hope that they were not infected and thought it was just the normal flu until their bodies failed them and they went to the hospital for a blood test to find an answer.  

 

In the worst situation, they may have known they were infected from the start and had been having sex until they were forced to get a blood test and were discovered to have a late stage. In this case, they may have ignored treatment or pretended it was not a big deal.  I wonder how many strangers they slept with before being discovered.  

 

[doncoin]

The general rule of thumb is if you are sexually active with multiple partners, you should get tested regularly, even if you are on prep. I get tested every month and it is a 15-minute process. You go in, they draw your blood, you pee into a cup, and you are done. You get. your results the next day via an app. Just be sensible when it comes to sex. 

 

 

[aftereightme]

23 minutes ago, doncoin said:

The general rule of thumb is if you are sexually active with multiple partners, you should get tested regularly, even if you are on prep. I get tested every month and it is a 15-minute process. You go in, they draw your blood, you pee into a cup, and you are done. You get. your results the next day via an app. Just be sensible when it comes to sex. 

 

 

will your result outcome being sent to relevant authority in SG without your knowledge if you are infect HIV positive? and your company or future company will get to know it?

[doncoin]

5 minutes ago, aftereightme said:

will your result outcome being sent to relevant authority in SG without your knowledge if you are infect HIV positive? and your company or future company will get to know it?

 

As far as I know, test results are personal. If you want to be certain that the information will not be shared with any relevant authority, please check the terms and conditions first before using the lab for testing. Unless the company is planning to foot your HIV healthcare bill, it is none of their business if you are HIV+ or not. 

 

[singalion]

47 minutes ago, doncoin said:

 

As far as I know, test results are personal. If you want to be certain that the information will not be shared with any relevant authority, please check the terms and conditions first before using the lab for testing. Unless the company is planning to foot your HIV healthcare bill, it is none of their business if you are HIV+ or not. 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately not. 

 

While there is a sort of confidentiality, it is not absolute.  (Refer to the link). 

For certain professions the employer will be informed (Healthcare, Senior citizen home, military...)

 

Further, outside the anonymous testing, there is a reporting duty to the Ministry of Health if you are tested on other avenues (private clinic not participating in anonymous testing), hospital etc. 

 

 

Law and HIV in Singapore

 

When someone undergoes HIV testing in Singapore, all doctors and laboratory staff are required to inform the ministry of a confirmed case within 72 hours of diagnosis.

Anonymous testing clinics are exempted from this mandate as they do not require provision of personal identifying data or contact details.

 

https://afa.org.sg/law-and-hiv-in-singapore/

 

 

Can read also there on disclosure to other parties. 

 

 

[egal]

good to know

[Guest Guest]

HIV is scary but STD can be spread through blowjob easily. Just wondering why can someone let a stranger suck his cock? Don't they worry about STD too?

[mate69]

42 minutes ago, Guest Guest said:

HIV is scary but STD can be spread through blowjob easily. Just wondering why can someone let a stranger suck his cock? Don't they worry about STD too?

Cos enjoyment of small head is sooooo irresistible 

[Guest Huh]

On 12/5/2023 at 10:18 AM, Sweetie Pie said:

If individuals are really hungry for RAW, please go buy a pack of sashimi to satisfy your crave.   When it comes to sex these days. If you do not contract HIV, you may contract another infection that burns.  Nothing is safe regardless blowjob or fuckjob.   The article referenced Singapore residents, which implies that foreigners who live here are also included. Although the news reported on HOW HIV is spread, it stopped short of speculating  WHERE the source. When a tourist  approaches you for sex, be wary of them because we have no idea where they are from or what medical condition they are in before they trick you into going to bed.   In order to have a more accurate data, I think it would be helpful if they reported Singaporeans and foreigners separately for clearer picture on HIV infection, but I think they veil it for a "reason".  

 

what absolute bullshit is this?

 

‘When a tourist  approaches you for sex, be wary of them because we have no idea where they are from or what medical condition they are in before they trick you into going to bed.’

 

Dumb as fuck 

[Guest guest]

53 minutes ago, Guest Huh said:

 

what absolute bullshit is this?

 

‘When a tourist  approaches you for sex, be wary of them because we have no idea where they are from or what medical condition they are in before they trick you into going to bed.’

 

Dumb as fuck 

 

So u mean we locals are clean with no medical condition?

[singalion]

1 hour ago, Guest guest said:

 

So u mean we locals are clean with no medical condition?

 

For plenty of locals , the bad things always come from foreigners ... locals are always angels. 

Not sure how such attitude and prejudices were instilled here. 

 

But a reminder: Just look at that one local (and she wasn't a naturalised citizen) who cheated on her degrees that were all fake... 

 

Those more realistic and with a brain know that foreigners wouldn't be less postive or STD carriers than locals... 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by singalion

[Guest fewtop]

based on grindr year review, singapore has the most sides and yet we have increasing hiv cases

i hardly can find top in grindr and sauna