HIV 'could be eliminated' after dramatic fall in new cases stat : INEWS

The fall was most apparent in new HIV testers," experts at Public Health England (PHE) and other institutions write. High levels of HIV testing, particularly among those most at risk of HIV and earlier treatment among those who were diagnosed with HIV is not only highly effective but also prevents passing on the virus. "This coincided with high HIV testing volumes and rapid initiation of treatment on diagnosis. If HIV testing of MSM at high-risk of HIV is intensified, combined with a wide-scale immediate access to anti-retroviral therapy, is replicated elsewhere, a "substantial reduction" in HIV transmission among MSM could probably be achieved nationally, the experts write. The similarity of the MSM HIV epidemic in England to elsewhere in western Europe suggests a similar approach in these countries might be equally successful," they conclude.




'First downturn'Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance for Public Health England, said: "What we are seeing is the first downturn of the HIV epidemic in gay men." 'All weapons'Dr Michael Brady, medical director of Terrence Higgins Trust, said after years of high rates of HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men, such a sharp drop in England was "remarkable". Among heterosexuals, who are not included in the Prep trial, new HIV diagnoses did not fall - staying at about 1,500. New HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals have remained stable. Published in the journal Eurosurveillance, the PHE study looked at data from 200 sexual health clinics in England.

Most new HIV cases concentrated in small number of counties, mostly in the South

"Sometimes looking at the map is an important reminder that this is an important public health issue in the south, Sullivan said. Jefferson County has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the state, according to the AIDSVu data. Closer to home, medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama used the map to improve medical care for HIV patients in rural Alabama, Sullivan said. AIDSVu includes a map of HIV diagnoses in Birmingham broken down by zip code. "The proportion of people diagnosed with HIV is probably a pretty good indication of the number of people with undiagnosed cases.


collected by :Lucy William
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