{"id":95276,"date":"2018-09-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=ed3abf6b10aa13fa4f863d4326d969a6"},"modified":"2018-09-04T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T09:00:00","slug":"press-release-new-hiv-diagnoses-across-the-uk-fell-by-17-per-cent-in-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=95276","title":{"rendered":"Press release: New HIV diagnoses across the UK fell by 17 per cent in 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Data published today by Public Health England (PHE<\/abbr>) reveal that new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses in the UK have fallen for the second year in a row. New diagnoses decreased by 17% in 2017 \u2013 from 4,363 new diagnoses reported compared to 5,280 in 2016, which brought new cases down to their lowest level since 2000.<\/p>\n

This decrease continues a downward trend that started in 2015, with an overall 28% reduction in new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses between 2015 and 2017. The reduction was largely driven by a decline in new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses among gay and bisexual men, which fell by 17% compared to 2016 and by 31% compared to 2015. This decrease was due to the high uptake of HIV<\/abbr> testing in this group, particularly repeat HIV<\/abbr> testing among higher risk men. Increased uptake of anti-retroviral therapy (ART<\/abbr>) \u2013 drugs that keep the level of HIV<\/abbr> in the body low and help prevent it being passed on \u2013 also significantly contributed to the decline in new diagnoses.<\/p>\n

New HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses in black African and Caribbean heterosexuals have been steadily decreasing over the past 10 years. For the first time, a UK-wide fall was also seen in new diagnoses in heterosexuals from other ethnicities, with a drop of 20% in 2017 when previously they had remained stable at around 1000 per year.<\/p>\n

Professor Noel Gill, Head of the STI<\/abbr> and HIV<\/abbr> Department at Public Health England, said:<\/p>\n

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We are pleased to see that UK prevention efforts are having a significant impact on new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses, and this heralds the lowest number of HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses in the UK since 2000. However, we know that anyone who has sex with a casual partner without a condom or shares needles may be at risk of infection.<\/p>\n

The most common way of getting HIV<\/abbr> in the UK is through having sex without a condom \u2013 so consistent and correct condom use with new and casual partners stops you getting or transmitting HIV<\/abbr> and other STIs<\/abbr>. If you think you have been exposed to HIV<\/abbr> it is easy to get tested so, if positive, you can start treatment as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Steve Brine, Public Health Minister said:<\/p>\n

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HIV<\/abbr> is a devastating and life-altering disease. Today\u2019s figures mean we are well on our way to eradicating it once and for all but we have not an ounce of complacency.<\/p>\n

Our commitment to prevention has led to more people getting tested and almost every person with a diagnosis is now in treatment \u2013 meaning they are unlikely to pass the virus on to someone else. I am committed to ensuring that we deliver on our promise to reduce the number of people contracting HIV<\/abbr> even further.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There are very effective treatments for HIV<\/abbr> that enable people diagnosed with the virus to live a long and healthy life, and minimise the risk of onward transmission. Early diagnosis through regular testing ensures people get the greatest benefit from these HIV<\/abbr> treatments. HIV<\/abbr> testing is freely available through GP<\/abbr> surgeries, local hospitals and sexual health clinics, as well as through a self-sampling service or by using a home-testing kit.<\/p>\n

Public Health England, alongside other government and third sector organisations, is working to control HIV<\/abbr> by 2030 and these new figures are an encouraging sign that this is achievable.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h3>\n
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  1. Epidemiological data on new HIV<\/abbr> diagnoses and people receiving HIV<\/abbr> care can be found in the PHE<\/abbr> health protection report and annual HIV<\/abbr> data tables<\/a>. Regional and Local Authority data on new HIV<\/abbr> diagnosis rates, late diagnoses and diagnosed HIV<\/abbr> prevalence data can be analysed on the PHE<\/abbr> Sexual Health Profiles<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. The data shows that:\n