Public Health England (PHE) publishes the latest statistics for HIV in the UK. The figures highlight the need to increase both the number and frequency of HIV tests.
A new report from PHE shows that nearly 110,000 people in the UK are living with HIV and around 26,100 of those are unaware of their infection.
Around six percent of gay and bisexual men are living with the virus - and this rate rises to a staggering 13% in London. There were 3250 new diagnoses in 2013. It is estimated that over 7,000 gay men have an HIV infection that remains undiagnosed and that an estimated 2,800 men acquired HIV in 2013.
Dr Valerie Delpech, head of PHE ‘s national HIV surveillance, said, ' We can’t overstate the importance of testing for HIV to ensure an early diagnosis.
'People diagnosed promptly with HIV infection can expect to live long and healthy lives. However, in 2013 people diagnosed with HIV late were 10 times more likely to die in the first year of diagnosis compared to those diagnosed promptly. People who remain unaware of their infection are also at risk of transmitting HIV to others.'
'Knowing one’s HIV status is the key to both effective treatment, and to preventing onward transmission. This is why we are promoting the National HIV Testing Week. The campaign encourages people who are most affected by HIV to take an HIV test. This includes gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and black Africans in particular.'
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BUCKING THE TREND.
In October we revealed that gay and bisexual men were bucking the trend for new HIV infections.The new statistics showed that, in the past ten years new diagnoses amongst MSM (men who have sex with men) aged 15-24 had almost doubled, as well as new diagnoses amongst the over 50s had almost doubled.
NATIONAL HIV TESTING WEEK
National HIV Testing Week was established by Terrence Higgins Trust and HPE in 2012 to increase testing rates among gay and bisexual men and African communities, the two groups at increased risk of infection in the UK. Each year, hundreds of sexual health clinics, local authorities, businesses, charities and community groups around the country hold special testing events or find other ways to raise awareness of testing during the week.
GETTING TESTED
Go to an open access STI clinic (some clinics in large cities are offering ‘fast-track’ HIV testing) or go to a community testing site.
Ask your GP for an HIV test – nowadays there is no need for lengthy discussion about the test, it just involves having blood taken, or even a finger prick.
Ask online for a self-sampling kit
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