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New HIV Cases Hit Record Rates; New Infections Anger

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By HAYMAN, Kamala

A new HIV case is diagnosed in New Zealand every two days -- the highest rate seen since records began.

HIV rates have been rising for the past five years with the most rapid increase now seen among gay men.

The Aids Foundation has cited complacency about the disease and the rise of internet dating as major factors in the spread of HIV.

However, the Health Ministry said New Zealand's HIV rates remained the lowest in the world.

Improved drug treatment also meant the number of deaths from Aids -- an advanced stage of HIV infection -- had fallen from a high of nearly 70 in 1992 to about 10 each year since 2002.

Otago University's Aids Epidemiology Group, which monitors HIV for the Health Ministry, yesterday released its annual report showing 183 people were diagnosed with HIV last year -- a 17 per cent increase on 2004 and the greatest number of new cases since records began in 1985.

Of those, 89 were men who had sex with men (MSM) -- a 19% increase on 2004 figures.

By contrast, the number of heterosexual infections remained steady at 73, and only seven of these were infected in New Zealand.

Foundation executive director Rachael Le Mesurier said the figures showed more men were not using condoms for anal sex and it was highly likely that the success of HIV treatments was a major factor in this.

Other major factors were likely to be the growth of internet dating, "which is hugely increasing the opportunities men have for sex", and the eroticisation of unsafe sex.

Le Mesurier said the integration of the gay community into the mainstream also made it difficult to target HIV prevention messages at the MSM group.

Of the new MSM cases, 94% were North Islanders and most lived in Auckland.

Their average age was 37 and 70% were European; 14% Maori.

Three-quarters were infected in New Zealand.

Six babies contracted HIV from their mothers, including four born in New Zealand.

None of the mothers knew they were HIV-positive.

The Aids Foundation said HIV screening of all pregnant women would practically eliminate mother- to-child transmission.

Since 1995 no New Zealand babies have contracted HIV from a mother who was diagnosed before the birth.

Health Ministry public health adviser Douglas Lush said antenatal HIV screening would begin in the Waikato next month and be rolled out nationally over three years.

Aids Epidemiology Group director Nigel Dickson said HIV infection was frequently only diagnosed when a person developed a serious illness, and had Aids.

However, he said the rise in infections was not due to historic behaviour with at least half of those newly diagnosed in 2005 infected within the last five years.

"We know it isn't all historical," he said.

.

New infections anger

A Christchurch man diagnosed with HIV in 1985 is dismayed by increasing rates of HIV.

"It is very disturbing. It does make me really angry because it is so easily avoidable. It's just a matter of condoms."

David, who did not want his surname published, said that when he was diagnosed there was just one other case in New Zealand.

Their prospects were not good. David was told he had two to four years to live. In those years he saw many others die from the disease.

Improved treatment meant he was not only alive, but felt better than he had in 10 years.

"But (it) has been very touch and go." About a year ago his health began failing and he feared he would have to move to Australia where a new drug was available.

A friend had since made the move across the Tasman because the treatment available in New Zealand was failing. Another, diagnosed four years ago, had stopped taking his pills because the side effects were so horrendous, ranging from minor skin rashes and nausea to liver failure and chronic diarrhoea.

David's future remains uncertain. He said it was inevitable the virus would eventually develop resistance to his current drugs.

David said he felt like slapping those who were newly diagnosed and asked: "How desperate are you for a one-night stand to put your life at risk?"

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Source: Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand

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