BAGUIO CITY — The City Health Office (CHO) here confirmed that at least 17 persons allegedly died due to the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency–Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) in the city over the past 17 years.

Since 1992, the social hugeness clinic of the CHO has recorded 33 HIV and AIDS cases and over 50 percent of the said cases have already expired.

Two cases were recorded in 1992, three in 1997, one each for the years 1998 up to 2000, and two cases in 2002.

At the same time, the health office revealed there were six AIDS cases which were recorded in the city in 2004 that includes a foreigner who was diagnosed in the city and a female blood donor.

In 2005, three AIDS cases were recorded and two of them were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Another four AIDS cases were subsequently recorded in the following year, five in 2007, two in 2008 and three confirmed cases in the months of January and February this year.

It was found out that the age ranges of the HIV-AIDS victims are from 17 to 45 years and 11 of them are female.

Out of the 33 recorded AIDS cases in the city, 17 of them were said to be overseas workers, two are sexually active females, three are wives of persons with HIV, two are foreigners, two are blood donors and seven are male having sex with males.

The alarming state of HIV-AIDS cases in the city has prompted the local health office to intensify its operations in night establishments so that commercial sex workers could be forced to subject themselves to the usual tests to determine if they have contracted sexually transmitted infections which could worsen if not properly diagnosed.