The number of reported HIV cases in the nation topped 6,000 for the first time since 1985, when the country began to compile relevant data, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The agency reported that the cumulative number of those with HIV had reached 6,120 at the end of December, 1,084 of whom had died.
A total of 797 new HIV cases were reported last year, up 7.1 percent from 744 the previous year.
It said the 99 percent of cases have resulted from sexual intercourse, with those in their 20s and 30s accounting for more than half of the total. Teenagers accounted for 2.5 percent, and those aged over 60 accounted for 7 percent. It said 743, or 94.2, percent were male.
chojh@koreatimes.co.kr
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