Number of new HIV cases falls

Sep 7 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

THE number of new HIV cases has dropped in Merseyside for the first time in over 10 years.

Figures released today by the Centre for Public Health (CPH) at Liverpool John Moores University and the North West Health Protection Agency show a 3% fall in patients diagnosed with the infection from 2005-2006.

Between 1996 and 2005, new cases in Merseyside rose by 341% from 27 a year to 119 but figures for 2006 show a year on year fall to 115 cases.

The wider North West area has also seen a drop in new cases by 2%, compared to an increase of 14% in 2004-2005. Last year 907 new cases were diagnosed compared to 928 in 2005.

The figures have been released as part of two reports from the CPH – HIV & Aids in the North West of England 2006 and Ten Years of Monitoring HIV & Aids in the North West of England.

The reports also reveal the total number of HIV positive people accessing treatment and care in the North West in 2006 is at its highest ever at 4,761, a 13% increase on 2005.

Last year saw more new HIV cases infected through heterosexual sex than any other route of infection, 433 individuals, equivalent to 48% of new cases; and also saw an increase in the proportion of new cases infected abroad, 40% compared to 34% in 2005, the majority of whom, 75%, were Africans.

However, the number of cases infected through male homosexual intercourse is also significant at 42% and increasing.

Professor Qutub Syed, director, HPA North West, said: “We can take some comfort from the small decrease in newly diagnosed cases, but the numbers remain high and it is a real concern that heterosexual sex is now the most significant transmission route of infection.

“It is good news that new medications are enabling people with HIV to live and maintain a good quality of life for much longer than was previously possible, but no one should be complacent about that. Infection with HIV is a life-changing experience and the condition remains incurable.

“Prevention is the best strategy and everyone needs to remember that unprotected sex with a new or multiple partners is extremely risky behaviour.”

The CPH findings show death rates amongst those infected with HIV have reduced four-fold from 1996-2000 to 2001-2005.

For many, HIV is now a long-term condition and as a result the HIV positive population is ageing. This is presenting challenges to HIV services with, for example, young people who contracted the infection from their mothers now reaching adulthood, and every year a larger number of infected people over the age of 60. HIV positive people also live in some of the most deprived areas of the North West, with those living in such areas being more likely to experience poorer health.

Deprivation was also linked to the use of HIV voluntary organisations, with those living in the most deprived areas of the North West relying most heavily on these services.

Dr Penny Cook, reader in Public Health Epidemiology and co-author of the report added: “The success of new therapies means that in general people are living longer healthier lives with HIV.

“However, HIV remains a highly stigmatised condition, and this may cause the delay in diagnosis in a significant number of individuals.”

lizawilliams