Agency issues warning over UK's rising HIV population

The number of people who acquire their HIV infection in the UK is increasing, according to a report published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to mark World AIDS Day.

In addition there has been almost a 20% increase in the number of people living with HIV in the UK, up from 41,700 in 2001 to 49,500 in 2002.

Dr Kevin Fenton, an HIV public health consultant at the Health Protection Agency, said: “World AIDS Day reminds us that the problems we face with HIV are not going away, despite it being a disease that is largely preventable. The group most at risk of contracting HIV in the UK remains gay and bisexual men, accounting for about 80% (1500) of the new diagnoses in 2002 that were likely to have been acquired in the UK."

Increases in high-risk sexual behaviour amongst gay and bisexual men have also led to significant rises in the rates of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the HPA said.

For example, cases of gonorrhoea amongst gay men have almost doubled (from 1,842 in 1999, to 3,363 in 2002) and cases of syphilis have increased from 52 to 607 over the same period. As STIs facilitate the transmission of HIV, it is possible that the rise in these may have played a significant part in the increase in HIV among gay men.

The number of heterosexual HIV diagnoses likely to have been acquired in this country has increased from 147 in 1998 to 275 in 2002, the HPA claimed.

These rising trends are putting sexual health services under increasing pressure and they will need to respond to the growing number and varied needs of HIV positive individuals, the agency warned.

It has called for the offering of annual HIV tests to gay and bisexual men attending GUM clinics, doing further studies of sexual behaviour amongst HIV positive individuals and migrant populations, and developing schemes to reduce GUM clinic waiting times”

Dr Fenton added: “With stigma and discrimination being the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, it is important to highlight that these are still major obstacles for people living with HIV.”

Elsewhere, Health Secretary John Reid today announced further funding of £15 million to improve genito-urinary medicine (GUM) services by modernising premises and facilities within clinics.

Dr Reid said: "This government is committed to tackling increasing rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . Today's investment

will enable the NHS to make the necessary improvements so that

patients are treated in higher quality premises."

The Health Select Committee's report into sexual health services this

summer drew attention to the "poor condition" of many GUM clinics and

the infrastructure within those clinics.

(gmcg)