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The first case of HIV in Singapore was diagnosed in 1985. Since then, the number of HIV cases continues to grow and by the end of 2007, the estimated number of people living with HIV was 4,200, up from 2,900 reported in 2001 (or about 45% increase). In 2007, Singapore has a prevalence of 0.2%, up from 0.1% in 2001 [1].

Singapore’s Ministry of Health reported that more than 90% of new HIV cases detected in 2006 were through sexual transmission with two-thirds of the infections from heterosexual sex. Due to strict drug laws, less than 2% of reported HIV cases were due to injecting drug use. More than half of the new reported cases were already at an advanced stage of infection, suggesting a need for more HIV testing amongst those who engage in high risk behaviour such as unprotected casual sex and intravenous drug use [2].

Sources:

[1] WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF. Epidemiological fact sheet on HIV and AIDS: Singapore , July 2008
[2] Agence France Presse, “Singapore’s HIV/AIDS cases rise by record levels in 2006,” cited by National Prevention Information Network (NPIN), 15 June 2007 at http://www.cdcnpin.org/display/NewsDisplay.asp?NewsNbr=48440