Sexual diseases - Worrying trend must be halted

The annual report from the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) contains worrying statistics on the increase in the number of sexually transmitted infections in Ireland.

With more than 10,400 infections, the highest for any year on record, it is sensible that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney should be prepared to consider one of the recommendations, although it could prove a controversial one.

The NDSC seriously proposes that HIV should be a mandatory notifiable disease, with safeguards to protect patient confidentiality.