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.