Beijing has reported fewer new cases of HIV infection, but a higher ratio of cases through unprotected sex, health authorities said.

A total of 3,135 new HIV cases were reported in the first 10 months this year, down 1.45 percent year on year, bringing the total number of infections to 21,886, according to Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

Three quarters of infections were non-locals.

Up to 96.9 percent of the new cases were sexually transmitted, 9.8 percentage points higher than in 2011, said the statement.

Fatalities of AIDS patients receiving anti-virus treatment has decreased to 0.18 percent, far lower than the national average level of over 2 percent.

According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in China hit 654,000 by the end of September, with 201,000 deaths recorded.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2016)