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Ka-hing Wong, MBBS, MRCP; Shui-shan Lee, MD, FHKA(Med)
Department of Health Hong Kong

JAMA. 1996;275(8):596.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—Dr Des Jarlais and colleagues¹ gave an excellent analysis of factors crucial in maintaining a stable, low human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in injecting drug users (IDUs) in five cities. We describe here our situation and experiences in Hong Kong for comparison.

In 1994, the number of active drug users in Hong Kong was estimated to be approximately 40 000,² a majority of whom have used heroin. The first case of HIV infection was reported in 1984. As of the end of September 1995, only 2% (12/602) of the cumulative reported cases were IDUs with a history of needle sharing. Other epidemiological studies have confirmed the low prevalence of HIV infection in the drug-taking community. In the past 10 years, only two positive samples were detected out of 8706 voluntary tests done at methadone clinics and other drug rehabilitation services. Unlinked anonymous screening of 11775 . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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