African migrants should be encouraged to have HIV tests, says Fine Gael

PEOPLE arriving in Ireland from sub-Saharan Africa must be encouraged to undergo tests for HIV, Fine Gael said yesterday.

New HIV infections in Ireland are up 10% on last year, reflecting a worrying increase in unsafe sex.

Figures released by the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) show that over half of the 399 new infections recorded were heterosexually acquired. And over half of those newly diagnosed came from sub-Saharan Africa.