CV 6th in HIV cases

Central Visayas recorded 225 new HIV cases in the first quarter of 2025, placing it among the top six regions with the highest number of infections nationwide, according to the Department of Health.

- Jonnavie Villa Staff Member

In the latest HIV/AIDS surveillance report by the Department of Health (DOH), Region 7 recorded 225 new HIV cases between January and March 2025, accounting for 4 percent of the country's 5,101 new cases.

Central Visayas joined the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Davao Region, and Western Visayas - regions that together accounted for 69 percent of all new cases nationwide.

"In January to March 2025, there were 5,101 confirmed HIV-positive individuals reported to the One HIV/AIDS & STI Information System (OHASIS), 50% higher than the cases recorded in the same quarter last year," the report reads.

From 1984 to March 2025, the region has documented 10,984 HIV cases, making up 7 percent of the country's total 148,831 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, from January 2020 to March 2025 alone, Central Visayas recorded 4,801 cases.

Nationwide, most of the new infections were among young males. Ninety-five percent, or 4,849, of new cases were male, and nearly half were aged 25 to 34, followed by those aged 15 to 24.