HIV Cases Soar in the UK

The Health Protection Agency in the UK has said that many people in the country are living with HIV, but some 25% are not aware they have the disease. Between 2007 and 2008, it is estimated that the number of HIV cases rose by 7-8%.

"Of concern is that over 22,000 people remain unaware of their infection in the UK and cannot therefore benefit from effective treatment.," said Dr Valerie Delpech, an expert in HIV from the Health Protection Agency. "We need to continually reinforce the safe sex message - using a condom with all new or casual sexual partners is the surest way to ensure you do not become infected with a serious sexually transmitted infection such as HIV."

The HPA said that there are some 83,000 HIV positive cases in the country. It also added that because treatment was effective, patients with the condition would live longer than before. Furthermore some 100,000 more tests done in 2007-08 as compared to the previous years, meaning that the disease was being diagnosed much earlier.

7,300 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2008 with gays and bisexuals the highest affected. However 58% of new diagnoses were among heterosexuals.


Source-Medindia
RAS