Shaun Robinson A more vigorous approach to HIV prevention is needed, following confirmation that more men than ever before have the virus and the revelation that one in five of them are unaware they are even infected. “Tougher, smarter HIV prevention initiatives are needed now more than ever before,” says NZ AIDS Foundation Executive Director Shaun Robinson, following disturbing new HIV infection findings released earlier this afternoon. Just-released University of Otago-led research suggests that 6.5% of gay and bisexual men in Auckland have HIV, with a fifth of these unaware of their infection. Of the men with undiagnosed HIV, more than half had previously tested negative for HIV in the last twelve months, suggesting that they had only recently been infected. "While testing regularly is clearly important, testing alone is not stopping this epidemic from spreading. Using condoms and lube every time you have sex remains the only way to protect yourself from HIV,” Robinson says. "If you're having unsafe sex you can be 100% sure that you will become infected with HIV... it's just a matter of time. It may be in a week or a month or longer but any man having sex with men without condoms can be sure that HIV will catch up with you." The new findings follow figures which showed that 2010 was the worst year on record for HIV among gay and bisexual men, with an unprecedented 95 new diagnoses, continuing a trend of increasing numbers since 2003. 2011 figures are not yet available. The new research, based on anonymous questionnaires and saliva tests carried out amongst gay and bi men this time last year, showed no differences in overall HIV infection between European and Maori participants. However, HIV infected non-European respondents were less likely to be aware they had HIV. Younger infected gay men also appeared to be less likely to be aware of their infection. “New Zealand has one of the best records of HIV control internationally,” says Dr Peter Saxton of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago which conducted the research in collaboration with the NZAF. “We need to keep it that way by encouraging condom use and earlier diagnosis among those most at risk,” Saxton says. “The NZAF remains committed to working with our gay and bisexual men’s communities,” Robinson says. The resurging HIV and AIDS epidemic in New Zealand is overwhelmingly amongst men who have sex with men and has been since the virus emerged to kill hundreds of gay and bi men from the mid 1980s. Although the virus is currently rarely deadly it is frequently debilitating and the long-term effects of HIV infection are increasingly worrying. 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 - 3:02pm