HIV cases in UK double over the past decade



The number of people infected with HIV in the UK has almost doubled over the past decade, figures show.

New cases jumped from 1,950 in 2001 to 3,780 in 2010, according to data from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).



All the cases involve people who acquired HIV in the UK.

Get tested: There has been a 70 per cent rise in the number of gay men who have HIV - in part because people do not get tested before passing on the disease. (Picture posed by models.)

Most new cases were among gay men, with a 70 per cent rise in the past 10 years, from 1,810 in 2001 to 3,080 in 2010.

But black Africans are also at high risk, prompting the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) to publish new guidance on increasing HIV testing among black African communities.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health excellence at Nice, said: 'For many people of black African heritage there is a fear that being diagnosed HIV positive will result in social exclusion or racism and prejudice from both inside and outside their community.

'As such there is often a reluctance to be tested which can significantly delay diagnosis.'

The new guidance aims to ensure testing is routinely offered to all people who live in an area where there is a high prevalence of HIV, when registering with a new GP, on admission to hospital, and when having a blood test.

Three out of five people who die from HIV each year received a late diagnosis.

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at the HPA, said: 'HIV is an extremely serious infection.

Red ribbon: Despite high profile campaigns, like World Aids Day in December, not enough people are getting tested

'There are excellent treatment options available nowadays but these are only at their most effective if the infection is diagnosed early, before symptoms appear.

'This is a challenge as most individuals will not be aware of their infection until they get tested for HIV.

'Testing for the infection must be increased in order to catch the infection as early as possible.'

Dr Paul Cosford, executive director of health protection services at the HPA, said: 'Unfortunately, despite small decreases in cases in the last few years new diagnoses of HIV infections acquired within the UK are on the upward turn, especially in men who have sex with men.

'This is the result of both new cases coming forward to be diagnosed as well as high levels of ongoing transmission, especially among men.

'We are continuing to work hard alongside clinicians, public health specialists and communities to ensure that HIV prevention remains at the top of the public health agenda.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: 'This underlines the importance of strengthening action to prevent HIV transmission, especially for gay men, who remain the group most affected by HIV in the UK.

'The Government funds targeted HIV awareness programmes for the groups most at risk of HIV in the UK.'

