More than 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
HIV Cases Among OFWs
In its January to March 2026 HIV-AIDS Surveillance Report, the DOH revealed that 223 migrant workers tested positive for HIV. Of these, 211 acquired the virus through sexual contact, with 144 cases attributed to male-to-male sex, 32 to sex with both males and females, and 35 through male-to-female sex. The remaining 12 cases had no available data on transmission.
Demographics
The report also highlighted that 205 of the diagnosed OFWs were male, while 18 were female. Since 1984, the DOH has recorded a total of 11,579 HIV cases among migrant workers. Among these, 11,332 were acquired through sexual contact, 20 through needle sharing, 9 through exposure to blood, 4 through needlestick injuries, and 210 with no transmission data.
The DOH continues to monitor and address the HIV situation among OFWs, emphasizing the importance of prevention, testing, and treatment.
