NAT welcomes decline in HIV diagnoses - but cautions against complacency

The Health Protection Agency announced today that there were an estimated 7,370 new HIV
diagnoses in 2008 – a decline from 7,660 diagnoses in 2007.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) released today show that new diagnoses among people infected with HIV in the UK have almost doubled in the past decade (from 1,950 in 2001 to 3,780 in 2010). Gay or bisexual men remain the group most at risk of becoming infected with HIV and new diagnoses in this group alone have increased by 70 per cent in the past 10 years (rising from 1,810 in 2001 to 3,080 in 2010).

New statistics released today from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that 42 per cent of all Africans diagnosed with HIV in the UK are diagnosed late.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT, comments:

“The alarming proportion of late HIV diagnoses amongst Africans in the UK results in increased illness and death as well as increasing the risk of onward transmission.  We need to expand HIV testing urgently outside sexual health clinics - GPs in particular need to start testing for HIV and become better at recognising the signs and symptoms of HIV infection.”

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), comments:

‘The figures show a worrying increase in diagnoses of heterosexuals infected with HIV in the UK, so it is crucial for us to step up our efforts on public education and awareness to tackle this.  This is important not just among African communities who have high rates of HIV, but among the public more generally.