New data has revealed HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men and women in the UK have surged by over 30 per cent in the last two years. Even though experts are not clear why cases are rising but suggest better access to testing may be a factor. Studies say it is the second consecutive year that heterosexual diagnoses of HIV have outpaced among gay men.
Charities fear the aim of ending new cases of HIV in England by 2030 is now “at risk". The latest figures reveal that new diagnoses in the UK jumped by 15 per cent from 2022 to 2023, rising from 2,451 to 2,810. Experts looking at reasons for HIV surge UK Health officials said they are working to explore the reasons for the rise in new diagnoses which include high testing.
They said clinics are not reporting some diagnoses that have been previously diagnosed abroad or underlying transmission. For men exposed to HIV through sex with women, the number of new diagnoses first made in England rose by 36 per cent from 445 in 2022 to 605 in 2023. It rose by 30 per cent from 602 to 780 among women exposed to the virus through sex with men.
Data also says ethnic minority men have experienced a 7 per cent increase, while white men saw a three per cent rise. “It is clear that more action is needed to curb new HIV transmissions, particularly among heterosexuals and ethnic minority groups. Addressing these widening inequalities, ramping up testing, improving access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and getting people started on HIV treat.