The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that an average of 51 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are detected daily in the Philippines. This data comes from the January to March 2026 HIV-AIDS Surveillance Report, which recorded a total of 4,633 confirmed HIV-positive individuals during the first quarter of the year.
Monthly Breakdown
According to the DOH, January saw the highest number of new cases with 1,690, followed by 1,536 in March and 1,407 in February. The quarterly average of 51 cases per day highlights the ongoing challenge of HIV transmission in the country.
Transmission Modes
Of the total cases, 4,214 (91 percent) were acquired through sexual contact. This includes 3,095 cases through male-to-male sex, 567 through male-to-male/female sex, and 552 through male-to-female sex. The DOH emphasized that sexual contact remains the leading mode of HIV transmission among newly diagnosed cases.
Additionally, 13 cases were attributed to mother-to-child transmission, and two cases were linked to sharing of infected needles.
The DOH continues to monitor and address the HIV epidemic, urging public awareness and preventive measures to reduce new infections.
