Increase in new HIV cases among gay men, report reveals

UP to 5,637 people in Ireland were infected with HIV by the end of last year with a surge in the number of newly diagnosed cases among men who have sex with men.

Figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre also show that some 136 babies were born to HIV-infected mothers last year, including five sets of twins.

Younger or more recently diagnosed HIV carriers must be targeted by health specialists, it was warned, especially those engaged in “transmission risk behaviour” where the virus could spread.

New infections among men having sex with men rose from 97 in 2008 to 138 in 2009 – a 42.3% increase in 12 months.

Dr Aidan O’Hara, the centre’s public health medicine specialist, said: “The trend is consistent with what is being seen in many western industrialised countries.”

The health watchdog says since other research shows that already HIV-infected gay men report further sexually transmitted infections and a high prevalence of drug and alcohol use, efforts must be made to reduce risky behaviour.

The annual report shows that overall there were 395 newly diagnosed cases of HIV in Ireland during 2009, a decrease of 2.2% on the previous year. The cumulative number of AIDS cases reported up to the end of 2009 is 1,038, with 414 deaths reported. A third of new HIV cases reported were aged 15 to 29 years old. The overall biggest portion of new infections though related to heterosexual transmissions (156 or 47.3% of cases). There were five mother to child infections and a separate 136 babies born to 131 infected mothers, including five twin deliveries. Of the overall number of cases, 34.7% (137) were female while 65.3% (258) were male.

Dr O’Hara added: “The overall drop in HIV cases is welcome. The number of people living with HIV is growing and given the increases in sexually transmitted diseases which facilitate the transmission of HIV infection, people should heed the safe sex message.”

Reacting to the report, Dublin AIDS Alliance executive director Mary O’Shea said political will was needed to overcome a complacency about sexual diseases in society. “These figures demonstrate that Government is failing to prioritise HIV and sexual health on the political agenda... Failing to invest in prevention will have greater cost implications for treatment in the long term.”