Rise in HIV cases is ‘steepest’ among heterosexual men and women

30% surge

Rise in HIV cases is ‘steepest’ among heterosexual men and women with 30% surge in 2 years

It's the second time heterosexual diagnoses of the illness have overtaken those in gay men

by Isabel Shaw, Health reporter

Published: 12:03 ET, Oct 1 2024Updated: 12:51 ET, Oct 1 2024

NEW HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men and women in England have surged by over 30 per cent in the last two years, new data reveals.

Experts aren't certain why cases are rising but suggest better access to testing may be a factor.

It is the second consecutive year that heterosexual diagnoses of HIV have outpaced those among gay men.

Experts say this indicates that "more action" is needed to reduce new HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals.

Charities fear the aim of ending new cases of HIV in England by 2030 is now “at risk".

The latest figures reveal that new diagnoses in England jumped by 15 per cent from 2022 to 2023, rising from 2,451 to 2,810.

Officials said they are working to “further explore the reasons for this rise in new diagnoses” but they could include the opt-out testing programme in emergency departments.

They said clinics not reporting some diagnoses which have been previously diagnosed abroad or underlying transmission.

For men exposed to HIV through sex with women, the number of new diagnoses first made in England rose by 36 per cent from 445 in 2022 to 605 in 2023.

It rose by 30 per cent from 602 to 780 among women exposed to the virus through sex with men.

read more at:

https://www.the-sun.com/health/12578684/rise-hiv-steep-heterosexual-men-women-surge/