This year, Shenzhen remains hopeful that it will open several Methadone Maintenance Treatment Clinics across Futian, Nanshan and Guangming Government districts.  On March 17^th the city’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) published the latest citywide AIDS monitored data and reported 598 newly infected HIV patients were recorded, last year.  This is a 3.85% drop from the year before. This is the first time a decline in the number of newly reported HIV cases in Shenzhen has been witnessed during the past five years.  The CDC expressed that this means a decrease in Shenzhen’s AIDS epidemic.

CDC’s statistics showed that out of last year’s 598 cases of reported HIV-infection and AIDS patients in Shenzhen, 126 cases were AIDS patients with 19 known cases of death.  The 457 male cases made up 76.4% and the 141 female cases made up 23.6%. Among the cases, the oldest was 89 years old while the youngest was 2 years old.  In all the reported cases of HIV and AIDS patients, those staying in Baoan district had the highest reported number at 179 cases making up 29.9%.  Longgang had 148 cases at 24.7%.  Futian, Luohu, Nanshan recorded 113 cases, 97 cases and 54 cases respectively.  Yantian recorded just 7 cases.

Among all infected persons and patients, sex is the main mode of transmission making up 52%.  Those infected from intravenous drug taking made up 243 cases at 40.6%.  13 cases were people infected through the mode of blood transmission with 10 blood donation and/or transfusion cases, all from the other provinces.  There was a case of mother-to-child transmission, which accounted for 0.2%.

In order to reduce the HIV infection rate, Shenzhen started a total of 3 Methadone Replacement Therapy Points in Luohu, Baoan and Longgang last year.  This year, the relevant department planned to add one Methadone Maintenance Treatment Clinic in Futian, Nanshan and Guangming Government districts, respectively.  This will bring the number of Methadone Maintenance Treatment Clinics to 6 for the whole city.