The number of people in the North West who are being diagnosed with HIV is on the increase, according to researchers in Liverpool. A new report by the Centre for Public Health at the city's John Moores University said 814 new patients registered for care in 2004.
This is a 12% increase on the previous year when 725 new cases were reported.
The largest increase in people with HIV or Aids since 2001 has been in the Merseyside area.
 |  The AIDS epidemic has reached a new and worrying stage |
Researchers said the figures are higher not just because more people are contracting the virus but also as those who are HIV positive are now more likely to live longer. Prof Mark A. Bellis, director of the Centre for Public Health and co-author of the report, said: "As a result of continuing unprotected sex in gay and heterosexual populations both groups are experiencing rising levels of HIV.
"On top of this spiralling HIV in Africa means people coming from there to live, study or escape persecution are also increasingly being diagnosed with HIV in the North West of England."
Prof John Ashton, regional director of Pubic Health, said: "After 25 years the Aids epidemic has reached a new and worrying stage. It is now truly global, and a threat to all sexually active adults, whatever their sexual orientation.
"The current danger is one of complacency, resulting in people thinking that they are not personally at risk, even though the disease is amongst us wherever we are in the world."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 