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Vol 16 no 51 |
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Final Issue: Volume 16 Number 51 |
Published on: 21 December 2006 |
Final Issue in PDF |
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News Archives
Last updated: Volume 14, No.48 (PDF file, 136 KB)
Archives | News Archives 2004: Page 1 | News Archives 2005 Page 2 |
News Archives: | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
UK Collaborative Group for HIV and STI Surveillance publishes 2003/4 Annual Report: Focus on Prevention
On 26 November 2004, the UK Collaborative Group for HIV and STI Surveillance publishes its 2003/4 Annual Report: Focus on Prevention (1). As with last year, the report presents combined data, analyses and interpretation on the HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) epidemics in the United Kingdom , along with further information on population sub-groups at increased risk. This year's report also presents monitoring and evaluation data from selected national HIV and STI prevention programmes.
Key findings from the report state that:
- It is now estimated that there are 53,000 people living with HIV in the UK . This compares to 49,500 in 2002. Twenty-seven per cent or 14,300 of those with HIV in 2003 are unaware that they are infected.
- In 2003, 6606 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in the UK . When all reports are received this is likely to increase to around 7000. This compares with 6017 newly diagnosed cases in 2002 and 3088 cases diagnosed in 1999.
- Twenty-six per cent (1735/6606) of these were in men who have sex with men (MSM), who despite accounting for less of these newly diagnosed infections are still the highest risk group for acquiring HIV in the UK .
- In 2003, 58% (3801/6606) of newly diagnosed cases of HIV were in heterosexual men and women. Seventy-two per cent (2727/3801) of these heterosexually acquired HIV infections were probably acquired in Africa .
- 35,428 HIV infected patients of all ages were seen for care during 2003. This is an increase of 17% on the figures for 2002. Of the 2003 figure, 43.6% relates to infections acquired by MSM and 45.1% relates to heterosexual men and women
- Chlamydia was the most common diagnosis in genitourinary medicine clinics (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom in 2003. 89,431 diagnoses were reported from GUM clinics in England , Wales , and Northern Ireland in 2003, representing a 66% increase in uncomplicated chlamydia since 1999.
- In England, the antenatal HIV screening programme has led to about 90% of HIV-infected pregnant women being diagnosed prior to giving birth, this reduces the chance of a baby being born with HIV;
- Eighty-five per cent (5598/6553) of hepatitis B-susceptible gay men who attended genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England have received the first dose of a three dose vaccination;
- Results from the National Chlamydia Screening Programme show that just over 10% of people screened in healthcare settings outside of GUM clinics were infected with chlamydia. The government's White Paper (2) announced last week that this screening programme would be extended across the whole of England by March 2007.
The report contributes to the understanding of the evolution of these two intersecting epidemics, planning local interventions, and assessing progress against national prevention goals. Further details on the report and data therein are available on the HPA website, available at
<http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_sti/publications/annual2004/annual2004.htm>.
References
1.The UK Collaborative Group for HIV and STI Surveillance. Focus on Prevention. HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United Kingdom in 2003. London: Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections. November 2004.
2.Department of Health. Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier . London: Department of Health, 2004. Available at <http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/fs/en>.
UK Collaborative Group for HIV and STI Surveillance publishes 2003/4 Annual Report: Focus on Prevention
World AIDS Day is commemorated around the globe annually on 1 December. It celebrates progress made in the battle against the global epidemic - and brings into focus remaining challenges. This year's World AIDS Campaign, with the strapline 'Have you heard me today?' seeks to raise awareness about, and help address, the many issues affecting women and girls around HIV and AIDS.
Women are increasingly affected by HIV, now making up nearly half of the 37.2 million adults (those aged between 15 and 49 years) living with HIV worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa , the worst-affected region, close to 60% of adults living with HIV are women. The latest findings have been published in AIDS Epidemic Update 2004 , the annual report by The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (1).
According to this report, the number of people living with HIV globally has reached its highest level, with an estimated 39.4 millions adults and children living with HIV as of the end of 2004 (figure). More than 25 million people were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2004. There is no single "African" AIDS epidemic, as highlighted in the report. Southern Africa is by far the worst-hit region in sub-Saharan Africa with prevalence rates surpassing 25%. The Caribbean continues to be the second most-affected region in the world; AIDS has become the leading cause of death among adults (aged between 15 and 44 years). The steepest increases in HIV infections have occurred in east Asia, eastern Europe, and central Asia over the past two years, with injecting drug use contributing to an increasingly large share of new HIV infections.
Figure Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV, end of 2004
References
1. UNAIDS & WHO. AIDS Epidemic Update 2004 . New Delhi , India : UNAIDS, November 2004.
Erratum: Increase in RSV activity in England : prophylaxis with palivizumab appropriate for 'at risk' infants
On 18 November 2004, the published item contained a link to guidance available on the HPA website (PHLS Position Paper: Prevention and treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection, 26 June 2001).
In the original article, the wrong hyperlink was published, but the paper can be found at: <http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/mins01nov02.htm>.
