A MAJOR increase in numbers of HIV cases in Warrington and the North West has been highlighted by newly released figures.
The statistics, on HIV and Aids in the region, have been released by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, and the Health Protection Agency North West.
They show the number of HIV positive people accessing treatment and care last year reached the highest level ever at 5,767 – an 11 per cent increase on the previous year.
There was a substantial increase in numbers of new HIV cases reported in the region, a reversal of the downward trend observed in 20006 and 2007.
An increase in new cases was reported last year. There were also increases in numbers of new cases infected through sex between men, injecting drug use and heterosexual sex.
During 2008 the main exposures for new HIV cases were heterosexual sex (4,446 individuals – 48per cent) and sex between men (382 individuals – 41 per cent).
Forty-two percent of new cases were reported to be infected abroad and the majority were black African.
Figures show rates for new cases are twice as high in Greater Manchester, compared to Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside. The latter three counties had the same rate of new cases as Greater Manchester did in 2001.
Numbers of deaths due to Aids has reduced dramatically from nine per cent of total cases in 1996 (87 people) to only 0.5 per cent last year (31 people).
The report says this is mainly due to advances in anti-retroviral therapy.
An increasing proportion of those receiving care for HIV were from black and minority ethnic communities (34 per cent), which is over representation as the group makes up only eight per cent of the region’s population.
Co-author of the report Dr Penny A. Cook said: “HIV continues to have the biggest effect on people in our most vulnerable communities.
“However, infection with HIV is no longer a life sentence. People who think they may be at risk need to be tested in order to benefit from lifesaving treatment if necessary.”
A MAJOR increase in numbers of HIV cases in Warrington and the North West has been highlighted by newly released figures.
Major increase in HIV cases
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
