UK sees continued rise in HIV cases

A new report has shown that the number of people with HIV in the UK has risen by more than 5,000 in a year.

The report, released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), shows the number of people living with HIV is now around 58,300. The agency also recorded a steep increase in other sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and chlamydia.

The report outlined that during 2004, 7,275 new HIV infections were reported in the UK – up from 7,217 diagnoses in 2003. The majority of cases – 4,287 - were diagnosed in heterosexual men and women, 73% of which were likely to have been acquired in Africa.

This figure includes both those who have been diagnosed and also an estimated 19,700, who remain unaware of their infection and therefore undiagnosed.

Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, stated: “This is yet another increase in the number people living with HIV in the UK. It will be the same story year after year unless prevention efforts improve and the recent Government funding to improve sexual health services is spent wisely.

“We’re at a crossroads - if we don’t concentrate on prevention and access to services for communities now, we will continue to have ever-increasing rates of HIV and the worst sexual health in Western Europe.”

The report follows Tuesday’s publication of the Aids Epidemic Update 2005, which stated that cases of Aids have reached record levels, with over 40 million people worldwide living with the disease.

An extra five million new HIV infections occurred this year, with the steepest increases seen in eastern Europe, central Asia and east Asia.

However, the report, from the World Health Organisation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids, also indicates that some progress in containing Aids/HIV has been made in Kenya, Zimbabwe and some Caribbean countries.

(CL/SP)