Singapore's Annual HIV Cases Reach Historic Low: Only 202 Cases!
[ Back to News Page ] Dated: 16-Nov-2024
Singapore's HIV Cases Decline to Historic Low in 2022: Only 202 New Cases Reported
According to data released by the Ministry of Health in Singapore in June 2023, there were 202 new cases of HIV infection among Singapore residents in 2022. This marks the third consecutive year of decline in new HIV infections and is the lowest number reported since 1998, when there were 199 cases.
In 2021, there were 250 new cases of HIV, 261 cases in 2020, and 323 cases in 2019. Of the 202 cases reported in 2022, slightly more than half were already at an advanced stage of HIV infection at diagnosis.
Eighteen percent of the cases were detected through routine HIV screening, while 17% were found through self-testing, with those diagnosed via self-testing often in the early stages of HIV infection. Among the 202 cases in 2022, the majority were male, with 187 cases. Men who have sex with men were more likely to be diagnosed via self-testing compared to heterosexuals.
Sexual intercourse remains the primary mode of HIV transmission, accounting for approximately 93% of cases in 2022. Gay men made up about half of all cases, heterosexual men about 37%, and bisexual individuals about 4%. There were 3 cases of HIV transmission through intravenous drug use. By the end of 2022, the total number of HIV-infected residents in Singapore was 9,331, with 2,362 deaths.
In a public consultation, the Ministry of Health urged individuals engaging in high-risk sexual behavior to undergo regular HIV testing every three to six months. The Ministry also recommended that all individuals over the age of 21, except women over 65, should undergo at least one HIV screening in their lifetime. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better outcomes.
"This is also to protect the sexual partners of those infected, as individuals undergoing treatment with undetectable viral loads do not actually pose a risk of transmitting HIV to their partners," the Ministry of Health said. "Avoiding casual sex or sex with sex workers is also an effective method for preventing HIV infection. Through early and effective treatment, people living with HIV can lead lives comparable to those of uninfected individuals."
