§ Baroness Ludfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the number of cases of HIV identified in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the London region in each of the years since the condition was first recorded; whether they have identified any patterns from those figures, with particular regard to means of transmission; and whether they will give details of measures being taken to bring down the number of cases in the United Kingdom. [HL5061]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFigures for reported cases of HIV infection diagnosed in the United Kingdom and in the London region are shown in the first table.
Year of diagnosis London region UK total 1984 or earlier* 774 1,617 1985 1,802 3,229 1986 1,618 2,767 1987 1,548 2,509 1988 1,202 1,951 1989 1,375 2,140 1990 1,636 2,543 1991 1,754 2,715 1992 1,697 2,740 1993 1,623 2,613 1994 1,584 2,571 1995 1,681 2,639 1996 1,705 2,685 1997 1,716 2,723 1998 1,760 2,799 1999 1,941 3,030 2000 2,262 3,723 2001** 2,362 4,164 Total 30,040 49,158 The second table shows the figures for UK-diagnosed HIV infections according to probable route of infection.
61WA
Probable route of infection Year of diagnosis Sex between men Sex between men and women Injecting drug use Blood/Blood factor Mother to child Other/un-determined Total 1998 1,344 1,154 130 10 92 69 2,799 1999 1,326 1,405 109 19 80 91 3,030 2000 1,437 1,880 100 22 95 189 3,723 2001** 1,338 2,226 89 21 52 438 4,164 Total 27,232 13,948 3,808 1,694 820 1,656 49,158 * Data for 1984 and earlier years have been combined as these pre-date the availability of the first HIV antibody test. ** Numbers, particularly for recent years, will rise as further reports are received. Source: Public Health Laboratory Service: data to the end of March 2002.
A number of trends are apparent from these data. It is important to note, however, that diagnosed infections may not reflect contemporary transmission patterns, as many years may elapse between infection and diagnosis. For example, a very high proportion of infections acquired through sex between men and women were recorded as probably acquired abroad, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, although more infections have been diagnosed among heterosexuals for the past three years, sex between men remains the predominant route of HIV transmission within the UK. Around half of all HIV-infected individuals currently living in the UK were infected by this route.
The Sexual Health and HIV Strategy for England prioritises the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In line with the epidemiology, HIV prevention and health promotion targets those groups most at risk, particularly men who have sex with men and heterosexuals from or with close links to African countries. For a number of years we have funded the Terrence Higgins Trust to undertake national HIV prevention work for gay men through the CHAPS project (Community HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategy). As part of the implementation of the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy we are working with the African HIV Policy Network and the National AIDS Trust to develop a strategic framework for HIV prevention. The strategy also announced a new information campaign for the general population in England to raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) and how they can be prevented. We plan to launch the new campaign later this year.
Furthermore, the routine offer and recommendation of an HIV test to all pregnant women is enabling women to benefit from treatment for themselves and for their babies to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission. An estimated 75 infections in infants were averted in 2000.