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01/12/2009
HIV Cases Rising Across Ireland
The often deadly Aids infection knowns no geographical and political boundaries as the number of new cases of HIV - which leads to Aids - in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are rocketing.
Across NI, cases rose by more than 50% in 2008, compared to the previous year while a record number of newly-diagnosed HIV patients has been reported by St James's Hospital in Dublin.
The Irish hospital said it has experienced a 20% rise in cases and a 100% increase in HIV diagnoses among both homosexual and bisexual men.
It is believed the rise is due to unsafe sexual practices among young men and a lull in public awareness of the disease.
Some 244 new HIV cases were diagnosed in Dublin this year, compared with 209 last year, and a total of 2,000 HIV positive patients now attend the hospital.
At the same time, the latest figures from the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre in Northern Ireland show there were 92 HIV diagnoses during 2008, compared to 61 in 2007.
The grim statistics show that in 2008, 14 people were diagnosed with Aids, and were the first new cases since 2005. Tragically, five people died from the disease.
However, while the number of new HIV cases rose sharply in 2008, figures for the first half of 2009 show an annual decrease is likely in 2009 - there have been just 24 cases in the first six months of the year.
Overall though, the number of new HIV diagnoses in NI has risen sharply in the last 10 years - there were just nine in 1998.
Just over half of the new cases of the virus in 2008, 55%, were acquired through sex between men and women.
Some 396 people with HIV were receiving care in Northern Ireland in 2008.
With today being World Aids day, it has been revealed that an estimated 33.4 million people across the world are living with HIV/Aids.
Dr Lorraine Doherty, of the Public Health Agency, said: "There is no cure for HIV, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy.
"World Aids Day puts the spotlight firmly on the disease and also provides an opportunity to raise awareness about a range of other sexually transmitted infections, some of which are on the increase in Northern Ireland."
The web-message network Twitter has meanwhile 'turned red' to mark World Aids Day and aims to raise awareness and funds for HIV/Aids projects across the world.
Twitter's new red livery also contains a link directly through to the Twitter page of Product Red, the HIV/Aids awareness charity founded by U2 singer Bono which hopes to fight the spread of Aids in Africa.
See: Record Number Of HIV Cases This Year
(BMcC/KMcA)
Across NI, cases rose by more than 50% in 2008, compared to the previous year while a record number of newly-diagnosed HIV patients has been reported by St James's Hospital in Dublin.
The Irish hospital said it has experienced a 20% rise in cases and a 100% increase in HIV diagnoses among both homosexual and bisexual men.
It is believed the rise is due to unsafe sexual practices among young men and a lull in public awareness of the disease.
Some 244 new HIV cases were diagnosed in Dublin this year, compared with 209 last year, and a total of 2,000 HIV positive patients now attend the hospital.
At the same time, the latest figures from the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre in Northern Ireland show there were 92 HIV diagnoses during 2008, compared to 61 in 2007.
The grim statistics show that in 2008, 14 people were diagnosed with Aids, and were the first new cases since 2005. Tragically, five people died from the disease.
However, while the number of new HIV cases rose sharply in 2008, figures for the first half of 2009 show an annual decrease is likely in 2009 - there have been just 24 cases in the first six months of the year.
Overall though, the number of new HIV diagnoses in NI has risen sharply in the last 10 years - there were just nine in 1998.
Just over half of the new cases of the virus in 2008, 55%, were acquired through sex between men and women.
Some 396 people with HIV were receiving care in Northern Ireland in 2008.
With today being World Aids day, it has been revealed that an estimated 33.4 million people across the world are living with HIV/Aids.
Dr Lorraine Doherty, of the Public Health Agency, said: "There is no cure for HIV, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy.
"World Aids Day puts the spotlight firmly on the disease and also provides an opportunity to raise awareness about a range of other sexually transmitted infections, some of which are on the increase in Northern Ireland."
The web-message network Twitter has meanwhile 'turned red' to mark World Aids Day and aims to raise awareness and funds for HIV/Aids projects across the world.
Twitter's new red livery also contains a link directly through to the Twitter page of Product Red, the HIV/Aids awareness charity founded by U2 singer Bono which hopes to fight the spread of Aids in Africa.
See: Record Number Of HIV Cases This Year
(BMcC/KMcA)
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The number of people living with HIV in Northern Ireland has risen by 10%. A report by the Public Health Agency (PHA) found 522 are living with the infection in Northern Ireland, an increase of 10% since 2010. The number of newly-diagnosed people with HIV rose by 3%, from 80 in 2010 to 82 in 2011.
01 December 2016
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Although HIV prevalence in Northern Ireland remains lower than in the other UK countries, the percentage increase in annual new diagnoses in NI between 2005 and 2015 is highest of the UK countries, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA).
01 December 2011
Infections Rise As World Aids Day Marked
World Aids day today has been marked by news locally that the number of new cases of HIV in Northern Ireland has risen by 20% in the last year.
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29 November 2019
84 New HIV Cases Diagnosed In 2018
More than 80 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in Northern Ireland last year, it's been revealed. The Public Health Agency is encouraging everyone to practise safer sex and get tested early if they have put themselves at risk. The warning comes ahead of World AIDS day, Sunday 01 December.
84 New HIV Cases Diagnosed In 2018
More than 80 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in Northern Ireland last year, it's been revealed. The Public Health Agency is encouraging everyone to practise safer sex and get tested early if they have put themselves at risk. The warning comes ahead of World AIDS day, Sunday 01 December.
01 December 2010
Upward Trend In AIDS Infections
AIDS and related sexually transmitted infections continue to increase in Northern Ireland. Following a similar trend to that seen elsewhere in the UK and other parts of Europe - the annual number of 'new episodes' of HIV has generally increased since 2001 with the highest ever annual total - of 92 - occurring in 2008.
Upward Trend In AIDS Infections
AIDS and related sexually transmitted infections continue to increase in Northern Ireland. Following a similar trend to that seen elsewhere in the UK and other parts of Europe - the annual number of 'new episodes' of HIV has generally increased since 2001 with the highest ever annual total - of 92 - occurring in 2008.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A largely cloudy day with occasional rain. Turning drier and brighter for a time in the afternoon and feeling very mild. Light southerly winds becoming strong with gales later along the County Down coast. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, these heavy at times. Strong southerly winds, with gales in the evening across eastern counties, becoming westerly later. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
