‘Snow blow’ behind increase in HIV diagnoses in Ireland

New HIV diagnoses in Ireland increased to the highest level on record in 2015 and they are linked to the use of a drug called ‘snow blow’.

HIV Ireland and the Ana Liffey Drug Project have come together on Irish Aids Day to launch a campaign highlighting the risk of HIV infection for people who inject ‘snow blow.’

Provisional data published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that 491 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2015, a 30% rise on 2014. These figures are the highest on record.