Thu 4 Jun 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
12.35AM: Gay and bisexual men are being warned that the risk of contracting HIV remains high and that syphilis is emerging as a serious sexual health issue at a level unseen since the 1980s. Figures just released indicate that the annual number of men who have sex with men (MSM) newly diagnosed with HIV reached an all-time high in 2014. And medical data associated with those positive HIV tests suggests many of the new diagnoses result from recently, not historically, acquired infections. Nigel Dickson “Of concern is the increase in MSM diagnosed who were infected in New Zealand which rose from 69 in 2013 to 86 in 2014” says Associate Professor Nigel Dickson the Director of Otago University's AIDS Epidemiology Group, which has monitored HIV and AIDS diagnoses since 1985. However, interpretation needs to be cautious, he says, "as the number diagnosed each year will not necessarily reflect the number newly infected, but will also be dependent on the amount of HIV testing of those at risk.” He explains, “we also found that about half of MSM infected in New Zealand had a relatively high CD4 cell count [a measure of the robustness of a patient's HIV-afflicted immune system] which suggests that they had been infected relatively recently since the CD4 cell count becomes depleted with progressive HIV infection. “While we could wait to see if this increase in HIV diagnoses is part of an upward trend in infections, or due to more testing, it seems sensible to ensure now that priority is given to ensure the community is aware of this ongoing risk, that they are informed about and encouraged to use preventive measures,” Dickson says. The NZ AIDS Foundation has also voiced concern. “This is the third year in a row that the number of gay and bisexual men infected with HIV has increased which is seriously concerning,” says Shaun Robinson, Executive Director of the NZAF. “While it is too early to know if this is a long term trend it confirms the need for increased HIV prevention awareness in the community and ramp up prevention action... It is essential that we take the rising number of infections seriously,” Robinson says. Behavioural surveys show that HIV testing rates have been rising over the last decade which may be contributing to the rise in infections are being diagnosed, says Dr Peter Saxton, an Auckland University health researcher. “That would also indicate that the right individuals - those with undiagnosed infection - are accessing testing in a more timely way. “However, surveys show that condom use is slightly lower than it was in the 2000s and we’re seeing very worrying increases in sexually transmitted infections among MSM where data are available." In his report on the 2014 diagnosis numbers Dickson notes with "concern" that "syphilis is being seen again among MSM, after it was hardly ever diagnosed in the 1990s and early 2000s.” Syphilis almost dropped off the radar in the early days of the HIV epidemic when the rapid adoption of condoms to guard against HIV infection also provided protection against other sexually-transmitted infections. The recent increase in syphilis amongst gay and bi men is therefore seen as an indicator that condom use may be slipping, particularly amongst highly sexually active men. “If you’ve had anal intercourse without a condom then it’s important you test for HIV,” Saxton says. “But even more important is avoiding transmission in the first place by using condoms. In New Zealand condoms are free and accessible. Using them is simple and takes the guesswork out of sex, since you both know that HIV can’t be transmitted.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 4th June 2015 - 12:35am