New Zealand continues to maintain a low level of new HIV infections compared to other similar nations, according to figures released this week. In the first six months of this year, the latest period for which ongoing figures compiled by the Otago University medical School are available, 37 gay or bi identifying men were newly-diagnosed with HIV in NZ, a similar figure to the final figures for the same time last year. Over the past decade the infection rate amongst men who have sex with men has seen a steady trend down with a dramatic drop between 2010 and 2011 and a slight increase last year. By contrast, HIV infection rates amongst gay and bi men across the world are increasing dramatically, including in countries where, like New Zealand, the main national epidemic of HIV is amongst men who have sex with men. Over 80% of people living with HIV in New Zealand are men who have sex with men. The NZ AIDS Foundation has regularly warned against complacency when the new HIV diagnoses levels are comparatively low, urging gay and bi men not to drop their guard and to keep up their commitment to using condoms and lube for anal sex.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 20th December 2013 - 12:19pm