During Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic, HIV Infection Reports Causing 'AIDS' Plummeted by 20%

KDCA Reports 57% Decrease in Health Center Reports... Impact of Suspension of Screening Tests
Same-Sex Sexual Contact Among Male Infected Individuals Increases for 3 Consecutive Years

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has significantly decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is attributed to the suspension of HIV screening and anonymous testing at most public health centers as part of COVID-19 response measures.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's (KDCA) "Weekly Health and Disease" report on the 21st, the number of newly reported HIV infections in the Integrated Disease and Health Management System last year was 975, a 4.0% decrease compared to 1,016 cases in 2020 and a 20.3% decrease compared to 1,223 cases in 2019.

HIV is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Early diagnosis and treatment can suppress HIV virus activity and prevent progression to AIDS. In South Korea, HIV infection and AIDS are designated as Class 3 notifiable infectious diseases and are under comprehensive surveillance.

Among the newly reported HIV infections last year, 79.3% (773 cases) were domestic nationals and 20.7% (202 cases) were foreigners. By gender, males accounted for 92.0% (897 cases) of the total. The largest age group was people in their 20s at 36.1% (352 cases), followed by those in their 30s at 30.1% (293 cases), and those in their 40s at 15.2% (148 cases), with people aged 20 to 40 making up 81.3% of the total.

The institutions reporting new infections were hospitals and clinics with 73.0% (712 cases), which decreased by 2.6% compared to 731 cases in 2020 and by 5.4% compared to 754 cases in 2019. Reports from public health centers were 157 cases (16.1%), down 5.4% from 166 cases in 2020 and a significant 57.2% decrease compared to 367 cases in 2019. The sharp decline in reports from public health centers suggests the suspension of HIV testing functions at these centers during COVID-19 prevention efforts. Reports from other institutions totaled 106 cases, about a 10% decrease from 119 cases the previous year, likely due to a reduction in blood donors and a decrease in the number of individuals undergoing military service physical examinations by the Military Manpower Administration.

The reasons for infected individuals undergoing testing were: 25.3% (184 cases) to identify the cause of illness, 24.9% (181 cases) voluntarily visiting testing institutions for HIV testing, 22.3% (162 cases) detected during tests conducted by medical institutions during surgery or hospitalization, and 13.3% (97 cases) found during health checkups.

Regarding the route of infection, 99.8% (532 cases) responded that infection was through sexual contact. Among male infected individuals who reported sexual contact as the route (521 cases), 66.2% (345 cases) were infected through homosexual contact, and 33.8% (176 cases) through heterosexual contact. All female infected individuals (11 cases) who reported sexual contact as the route indicated heterosexual contact. The proportion of male infected individuals reporting infection through homosexual contact has steadily increased over the past three years: 56.9% in 2019, 58.3% in 2020, and continuing upward recently.

According to a report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the number of new AIDS infections worldwide decreased by 3.6% last year compared to the previous year, but some regions that had previously shown a decline are now experiencing an increase in new infections. Notably, the Philippines, Madagascar, Congo, and South Sudan have seen the largest increases in new infections since 2015.

The report attributes this to "disruptions in AIDS eradication efforts caused by COVID-19 lockdowns, and the diversion of funds needed for AIDS response due to global inflation and other circumstances, leading to decreased international attention." It also points out that "the COVID-19 pandemic has created more unstable conditions for people living with HIV, making treatment and management of HIV/AIDS more difficult and worsening disease prognosis."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.