Significant rise in HIV cases, warns consultant

THERE has been a significant increase in the number of people in Cork and Kerry infected with HIV, according to a senior consultant dealing with sexually transmitted diseases.

Dr Mary Horgan, HSE (South) consultant in infectious diseases, said last year 80 cases of HIV were reported in the region, compared to just 58 in 2007.

There has been a steady rise in HIV cases since 49 were reported in 2004 but, according to Dr Horgan, last year’s jump represents “a very worrying trend”.

She said those infected with the virus were predominantly in the 20-50 age group.

Around a third of cases were reported in women while the remaining two- thirds were among homosexual or bisexual men.

“It is worrying because HIV is something that is preventable. People may think there is a cure out there. The fact is, the disease can be arrested with effective treatment if it is caught early,” Dr Horgan said.

She believes a number of those cases resulted from people picking up the infection while on holidays.

The real figures for HIV sufferers in Cork and Kerry could also be far higher.

Dr Horgan believes that a number of infected people are reporting to clinics outside the region because they are concerned about bumping into people they know if they go to a clinic in their own locality.

The number of people infected with Chlamydia dropped significantly last year in the two counties.

In 2007, there were 415 recorded cases, which was the second-highest incidence in 10 years. Last year the figure fell to 325.

Chlamydia can be particularly dangerous to women as it can leave them infertile.

Dr Horgan said gonorrhoea cases are increasing steadily.

In 1998, just 16 cases of gonorrhoea were recorded in the region. In the following two years, the figure doubled.

It then steadily declined, dropping to 18 cases in 2007. But there were 30 cases reported last year.

“Gonorrohea cases are back to where they were in the 1990s. There has been quite a jump in numbers from 2006. Gonorrohea can be prevented by the use of condoms,” Dr Horgan said.

The number of people contracting ano-genital warts fell slightly last year to 569, down nine cases on 2007.

In 1998 a total of 353 cases were reported. The number peaked at 655 in 2004 and has declined every year since.

Dr Horgan said that the peak in reporting sexually transmitted diseases occurred straight after the summer holidays.

“We get up to a 20% increase in cases after the holidays. A lot of students are coming back to college after working abroad. They are inclined to let their hair down when they are away and do things they wouldn’t normally do at home.”

STD clinics operate at the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital from Mondays to Thursdays and Kerry General Hospital in Tralee on Fridays.

A clinic also operates at the Youth Health Services Centre, Shandon Street on Saturdays. Appointments can be booked at the clinics by calling 021-4966844.