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Warning over HIV rise in gay men

23/11/2007

Rates of HIV infection in gay men continued to rise in 2006, following a steady increase year-on-year since 2003, latest figures have revealed.

The increase in HIV cases is identified in a report which says that efforts to reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are not succeeding overall.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says there were over 2,700 new cases of HIV infection in gay men in 2006; roughly a third of the total number of HIV cases in the UK in 2006 - estimated to be 7,800.

A total of 73,000 adults are now living with HIV in the UK, 21,600 of which are unaware they have the virus.

"In recent years we have seen steady increases in all STIs, including HIV, in gay men and since 2003 the number of HIV diagnoses reported annually has consistently increased and exceeded the annual number of diagnoses throughout the 1980s and 1990s," said Dr Valerie Delpech, HPA head of HIV surveillance.

The HPA's report, Testing Times, says that current efforts to stop HIV and STI transmission in gay men are not succeeding adequately.

Although increased testing will have contributed in part to the number of HIV diagnoses, the HPA says there is no evidence that the overall level of underlying HIV transmission in gay men has fallen.

It warns that unprotected sex continues to be a very high risk activity for HIV and STI transmission in gay men.

Testing Times also says that efforts to reduce STI transmission overall have not been successful.

It praises the increase in HIV testing, the reduction in waiting times at STI clinics and wider chlamydia testing for young adults, but says the total number of STI diagnoses increased 2.4 per cent from 606,600 in 2005 to 621,300 in 2006.

"Sexual health of young adults has worsened in 2006 with increases in sexually transmitted herpes and warts viruses," said Dr Delpech.

Professor Pete Borriello, director of the HPA's Centre for Infections, added: "The control of HIV and STI transmission is a major public health challenge and testing for STIs, including HIV, in the UK needs to be increased still further.

"We recommend that gay men should have regular HIV tests, STI clinic attendees should be tested for HIV at every visit and young sexually active adults should be screened for chlamydia annually and after a partner change."