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HIV cases continue to fall

26 November 2010

The number of new cases of HIV diagnosed among West Midlands residents continued to fall in 2009, according to new figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).


The statistics show that there were 424 new cases in 2009 compared to 446 in 2008. The total number of people living with HIV in the region and accessing care last year was 4,141.

This pattern was reflected across the country, where 6,630 people were newly diagnosed last year, the fourth year-on-year decline.

The decrease in diagnoses is thought to be largely due to a fall in the number of cases acquired through heterosexual activity abroad, particularly in Africa. The HPA has warned, however, that this masks an increase in new cases acquired through heterosexual activity in this country.

Professor Harsh Duggal, Sexual Health lead for the HPA in the West Midlands, said “It’s good news that numbers overall are decreasing, but it’s a concern that the safe sex message is still not being heard by some people.

“People can play their part in HIV prevention by ensuring they protect themselves by practising safer sex with all new and casual partners. Anyone who thinks they have put themselves at risk of contracting infection should see a GP or attend a sexual health clinic as soon as they can.”

Released ahead of World Aids Day (1st December), the figures show that heterosexuals in the region are still the largest affected group, reflecting 56% of all new cases in 2009. New cases in men who have sex with men also decreased again in 2009, but in 11% of male cases, the route of exposure was undetermined.

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with the highest rates of diagnosis across our region include Heart of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.

Expanded HIV testing is recommended in areas where the number of people diagnosed is greater than 2 per 1,000 population. In the West Midlands two PCTs are among 37 across England where numbers are greater than this national threshold.

In Heart of Birmingham HIV prevalence stands at 3.29 and in Coventry it is 2.72. In both these areas, testing uptake in GUM clinics is currently above national targets and the HPA is working with public health partners to widen access to testing where necessary.

Nationally 6,630 people were newly diagnosed in 2009 – 4,400 men and 2,230 women, bringing the total living with HIV to 86,500.

Although this represents the fourth year-on-year decline, evidence suggests that there has been no decline in the number of undiagnosed infections in the past decade and it is thought that among the 86,500, almost 21,000 in the UK do not know they have the infection.

Professor Duggal added: “We’re very concerned that a large number of people in the region and across the UK are unaware they are living with HIV and that half of all newly diagnosed people are diagnosed late, meaning they may not benefit from very effective treatments.

“Today’s figures suggest that extra effort is needed to ensure more people are aware of their HIV status. This will enable faster access to treatment, improve survival and reduce the risk of transmission to partners.

ENDS

For more information on this press release, or for media interviews, please contact the Health Protection Agency West Midlands Press Office on 0121 352 5317.

Notes to editors:

  • For more information about HIV prevalence visit: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/HIV/OverallHIVPrevalence/
  • HIV in the UK report - the Health Protection Agency’s ‘HIV in the United Kingdom: 2010 report’ will be available on the HPA’s website from Friday 26 November. Adjustments have been made to some of the detailed figures provided above to take into account missing information relating to the cases reported.
  • Estimating undiagnosed HIV infections - statistical modelling frameworks and techniques are applied to combine different surveillance and survey data to obtain an estimate of the prevalence of HIV in the population. Further details of the methodology and data sources employed are available from Presanis et al Insights into the rise in HIV infections, 2001 to 2008: a Bayesian synthesis of prevalence evidence. AIDS 2010 24:2849-58.
  • Access to HIV testing - the Department of Health has funded eight projects looking at the feasibility and acceptability of offering HIV testing in medical and community settings. The HPA has been tasked with analysing the results of these projects. An interim report entitled, ‘Time to Test for HIV’, will be presented at a conference being organised by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) on Wednesday 1 December (World AIDS Day).
  • The Health Protection Agency - is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards.
    The Agency identifies and responds to health hazards and emergencies caused by infectious disease, hazardous chemicals, poisons or radiation. It gives advice to the public on how to stay healthy and avoid health hazards, provides data and information to government to help inform its decision making, and advises people working in healthcare.  It also makes sure the nation is ready for future threats to health that could happen naturally, accidentally or deliberately.
  • For more information visit www.hpa.org.uk

Last reviewed: 29 November 2010