Beijing has reported 2,874 HIV/AIDS cases between January and October this year, of which almost 97 percent were transmitted though sex, according to the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Sunday.

Only 0.94 percent were transmitted through sharing needles while injecting illegal drugs, and 0.14 percent from mother-infant transmission, the center said. The mode of transmission for the rest 2.05 percent cases was unclear.

Beijing reported China’s first HIV case in 1985. By the end of October, Beijing had reported a total of 29,063 HIV carriers, of which almost 80 percent do not hold Beijing hukou, or registered permanent residence, the center said.

Sex-related transmission accounts for 91.86 percent of the total reported cases, and about four percent are related to sharing needles for drugs, it said.

The statistics were released ahead of a debate competition held at People’s Public Security University of China. The competition, which features HIV/AIDS related topics, aims to mark the 31st World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec 1.