Complacency surrounding HIV is being blamed for a disturbing trend in HIV infection rates in New Zealand. 2002 saw the highest rates of new infections since 1989, with 111 cases being reported. This year could shape up to be much worse, with 69 new cases reported for the first six months of 2003 alone. "HIV is on the increase," says the AIDS Foundation's Positive Health manager Kevin Baker "Everyone needs to take responsibility. Everyone is potentially at risk. It's still around and more people are getting infected. There is high complacency in this country." Mr Baker fears the numbers reported may be too conservative, as overseas studies have suggested a third of people with HIV do not know they are infected.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 17th October 2003 - 12:00pm