{"id":85025,"date":"2017-10-04T12:30:29","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T12:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=503164c65c9e1900fe74c2730832f7e0"},"modified":"2017-10-04T12:30:29","modified_gmt":"2017-10-04T12:30:29","slug":"press-release-new-phe-figures-show-decline-in-hiv-diagnosis-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=85025","title":{"rendered":"Press release: New PHE figures show decline in HIV diagnosis rates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The decrease in HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses in gay and bisexual men represents the most exciting development in the UK HIV<\/abbr> epidemic in the last 20 years, when effective treatment became widely available.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the figures, Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV<\/abbr> Surveillance at Public Health England, said:<\/p>\n

\n

This is very good news. It is the first time since the beginning of the HIV<\/abbr> epidemic in the 1980s that we have observed a decline in new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses among gay and bisexual men, and is clear evidence that HIV<\/abbr> prevention efforts are working in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Our success in reducing transmission is due to high levels of condom use among gay men, and a sharp rise in the number of men testing for HIV<\/abbr> each year, with those at greatest risk testing more frequently. Early diagnosis is also key to making sure that people benefit from HIV<\/abbr> treatments so they can live long and healthy lives and are protected from passing on the virus to others.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

With continued investment in testing and diagnosis, the decline in HIV<\/abbr> infection which has taken place for gay and bisexual men in London can be replicated in other parts of the country and in all those at higher risk of HIV<\/abbr>. HIV<\/abbr> testing enables diagnosis and the opportunity for treatment which not only means people can live long, healthy lives but also provides reassurance that the virus cannot be passed on.<\/p>\n

It is easy to get tested for HIV<\/abbr>. Testing is freely available through GP<\/abbr> surgeries, local hospitals and sexual health clinics as well as on self-sampling and self-testing (see NHS Choices for further information). As well as getting tested, using a condom with new or casual partners protects against HIV<\/abbr> and other STIs.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    The HIV<\/abbr> in the UK health protection report and annual HIV<\/abbr> data tables<\/a> comprise the number of HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses, late HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses and numbers accessing HIV<\/abbr> care. Data can be interrogated and analysed at local authority level<\/a> via an online tool allowing a range of outputs to be generated.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    The December 2016 edition of Health Matters, PHE<\/abbr>\u2019s resource for local authorities and health professionals focuses on increasing HIV<\/abbr> testing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The HIV<\/abbr> home sampling service offers an alternative to traditional testing offered by GPs<\/abbr> and sexual health clinic. Visit www.freetesting.hiv<\/a> to find out more about the HIV<\/abbr> home-sampling test kit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    PrEP<\/abbr> Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP<\/abbr>), has been a contributory factor in the downturn in new diagnoses in gay and bisexual men. Previous trials such as the PROUD trial have shown that HIV<\/abbr> PrEP<\/abbr> is clinically effective, dependent on drug adherence, and that risk behaviours and other STI<\/abbr> infection rates did not increase. PHE<\/abbr> is supporting NHS England in the 3 year PrEP<\/abbr> Impact Trial<\/a> beginning in October 2017. PHE<\/abbr> helped finalise the trial design, governance, recruitment and drug procurement processes of the Impact Trial and will continue to be an active and committed partner during its running.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n
    \n

    \nPHE<\/abbr> press office<\/h3>\n
    \n
    \n

    \n Email<\/span>
    \n     phe-pressoffice@phe.gov.uk<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

    \n Out of hours telephone number<\/span>
    \n 020 8200 4400\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Public Health England (PHE) figures show there has been a significant decline in new diagnoses of HIV in the UK in gay and bisexual men.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85025"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85025\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}