RECORD RISE IN NORTH WEST HIV CASES | | Aids treatments have improved recently |
The North West has seen an explosion in cases of the AIDS virus HIV, a new report claims. Experts warn that the only way to halt further escalation is to practise safe sex. There has been a 24% increase in people receiving treatment for HIV and AIDS across the region, according to the report by Liverpool John Moores University and the Health Protection Agency for the North West. This is the sharpest increase since regional monitoring began eight years ago.  | | Practising safe sex is essential to avoiding HIV |
Professor Mark Bellis, one of the report’s authors says, "We are seeing similar escalating trends across all other sexually transmitted infections." "All these major infections are entirely preventable if people adopt safer sex practices." Support for those effected by HIV/AIDS in the North West Other interesting points raised by the report are: - Heterosexuals accounted for the majority of new cases for the first time in 2002.
- The number of women with HIV has grown proportionally more than that of men.
- The number of cases infected by non-sexual transmission routes (injecting drugs, mother to child and blood or tissue transfers) remains relatively low.
- The voluntary sector makes a continued contribution to the care of people with HIV.
Regional Epidemiologist Dr Martyn Regan say, "HIV/AIDS has been in danger of becoming the forgotten disease, but this report reminds us that the number of cases in the North West is increasing…"Increases by County | Increases by County | Cumbria
2001: 63
2002: 63
% INCREASE: 0.0 Lancashire
2001: 322
2002: 398
% INCREASE: 23.6 Merseyside
2001: 170
2002: 226
% INCREASE: 32.9 Cheshire
2001: 186
2002: 241
% INCREASE: 29.6 Greater Manchester
2001: 1103
2002: 1371
% INCREASE: 24.3 Source: Liverpool John Moores University |
Travel risks A high proportion of the cases amongst heterosexuals are linked to travel overseas and arrivals from countries outside of the UK. This is particularly from Sub Sahara African, which has a high prevalence of HIV. Dr Martyn Regan says, "It is worrying that the majority of new cases are being recorded amongst heterosexuals." "People should heed all the readily available advice about practising safer sex and this is particularly important for people travelling abroad, where the risks may be even greater." If you have been affected by HIV/AIDS, visit Inside Out's page containing useful contacts in the North West. | 
