(CNN Philippines) — Cases of AIDS continue to rise in Naga City, where this month, three more people were found to be carriers, raising the total number of infected to 41.
This number was confirmed by Dr. Vito Borja, health officer of Naga City, who said that the number of cases rose from 20 in 2013 to 38 in December 2014 to the current 41.
He said the city health office along with hospitals in the area are working together to monitor new cases.
Naga City Mayor John Bongat, however, downplayed the increase in the number of cases, saying that some of the victims got infected in other places and not in Naga.
Bongat added the Naga City AIDS Council is actively implementing measures to counter the dangers of the deadly disease, with 646 cases as of February 2015.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), 20 new cases of HIV are diagnosed each day in 2015.
Just recently, the Health Department said cases of HIV in the country were at its highest level since 1984.
Related: DOH records highest number of HIV cases since 1984
