Considerably more gay and bi Auckland men than ever before are now infected with HIV, according to research figures released moments ago. The new University of Otago research indicates that one in every fifteen gay and bisexual men in Auckland are currently infected with HIV, a much higher proportion than one in twenty which previous research has indicated. These new findings follow revelations that 2010 was the worst year on record for new HIV infections amongst New Zealand gay and bisexual men, with an unprecedented 95 new diagnoses, continuing a trend of increasing numbers since 2003. Figures for 2011 are not yet available. The new figures have emerged from the Get It Wet study conducted in February 2011 which recruited 1049 gay and bisexual men from Auckland gay community settings such as venues and the Big Gay Out. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire and provided an anonymous saliva specimen. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 2nd February 2012 - 3:00pm