High rates of HIV infection amongst men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in New Zealand look set to continue with historically high rates continuing in latest figures just released. In the first six months of this year 35 MSM were newly diagnosed with HIV compared with 33 in the same period last year. 2003 recorded one of the highest numbers of new HIV infections among MSM - 71 more men contracted HIV - since the epidemic began in New Zealand. NZAF Executive Director Rachael Le Mesurier says the figures, compiled by Otago University's AIDS Epidemiology Group, also indicate that many of the new HIV diagnoses are a result of recent unsafe sexual activity. “Of the ten men infected through sex with another man in the second quarter of this year, six had previously had a negative HIV antibody test, five of whom had tested within the last two years.” Ms Le Mesurier said that these figures suggest that the increase in HIV infections is being driven, at least in part, by a rise in new infections, rather than a rise in detection/diagnoses of people who have lived, undiagnosed, with the virus for some time. She says the NZAF's current ‘End the Silence' campaign "is part of our response to the changing dynamics of the HIV epidemic in New Zealand and we have already had good community feedback about the campaign, especially the focus on the serious consequences of HIV infection." Le Mesurier says other campaigns will follow, including initiatives arrising from the recent nationwide community forums. The NZAF continues to advise the safest, most reliable way to avoid HIV is the consistent use of condoms for anal intercourse.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 9th September 2004 - 12:00pm