LONDON, February 28 –  New diagnoses of HIV in the United Kingdom remained at a high level during 2004, the Health Protection Agency revealed today.  Reports received so far show there were 5,016 new diagnoses reported for 2004 compared with 5,047 at the same time in 2003.  These figures will rise further as late reports are received, the Agency says.

“When all reports have been received, we expect the total number of new diagnoses for 2004 to be around 7000, which is the same as the expected total for 2003,” Dr. Valerie Delpech, one of the Agency’s HIV experts ,told members of the board.

“A larger proportion of the new diagnoses were acquired through heterosexual sex (57%).  Out of every ten of these, eight were acquired abroad predominantly in high prevalence countries, one acquired in the UK and the remainder are awaiting follow-up.

“Sex between men accounted for 28% of new diagnoses.  These breakdowns are similar to those seen in 2003,” Dr. Delpech added.

"These figures show that the world-wide epidemic of heterosexually transmitted HIV is continuing to have a major impact in the UK and that HIV transmission between gay men is continuing at a high level within the UK.  Moreover there are clear signs that heterosexual transmission of HIV within the UK , although at a low level at present, is very gradually increasing”

Commenting on the figures, Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the Agency, said “This is the first opportunity for us to consider the preliminary figures for 2004, and although the number of diagnoses remains high, we have not seen an increase over the last year.  We must not leap to conclusions at this stage, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely”

Dr Delpech also told the Board:  “Some of these new diagnoses will be in people who have been infected for some time and are just coming forward for testing, this is good because the earlier people are diagnosed the more closely their health can be monitored and antiretroviral treatment can be started which can prolong their life.

“This continuing high level of HIV diagnoses is also against a background of increasing numbers of other sexually transmitted infections, which shows us that people are still practising unsafe sex. It is important that everyone takes responsibility for their own sexual health, especially those in high-risk groups such as gay men, young people, and HIV-positive individuals. One of the most effective ways to do this is ensure that they use a condom with all new and casual sexual partners. she added.

The Agency estimates that there are currently 53,000 people living with HIV in the UK, over a quarter of whom (14,300) remain unaware of their infection.  The claculation of the number who are infected but remain unaware of their HIV-status through a survey called the Unlinked Anonymous programme.

It should be noted that the figures on the report for new diagnoses refer to people who received a positive test result for HIV during 2004 and the figures do not refer to the fact that people were infected during 2004.

LINKS

AIDS/HIV Quarterly Statistics  – Adobe Acrobat reader required
Health Protection Agency website
Terrence Higgins Trust website

28  February  2005