HIV 'on the rise' in Ireland

The Government has issued a warning about the dangers of HIV after statistics revealed that the fatal disease is becoming more widespread in Ireland.

Junior Minister Tom Moffat said there were 342 new HIV cases reported last year, a 64% rise on the previous year’s figures.

He said Irish people must realise that HIV is a mainstream disease and heterosexual transmission is more common than transmission among homosexuals and heroin users.

“Straight sex is spreading more HIV than gay sex or intravenous drug use,” he said. “HIV is in the mainstream. We must wake up to that.”