New AIDS cases down for first time in 5 years: CDC

TAIPEI–The number of new HIV/AIDS patients in Taiwanin 2014 fell from the previous year for the first time since 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday.

A total of 2,236 people were newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS last year, fewer than the 2,244 diagnosed in 2013, the CDC said.

The slight drop in new cases after four consecutive years of increases indicated that the many initiatives Taiwan has taken on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment are finally having an impact, the CDC said, without pinpointing which program made the most difference.

The biggest decline in 2014 was seen in the 25-34 age group, which saw a fall in newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients from 1,016 in 2013 to 979 in 2014, followed by the 15-24 age group, with a slight decline from 664 to 658 cases, the agency said.

Taiwan had 1,643 new HIV/AIDS patients in 2009, down from 1,739 in 2008, but that number had risen steadily each year until 2014, CDC data showed. It said most patients have contracted the disease from unprotected sex.

Scroll to Top