[Shadow_Group] Fw: Thousands In UK 'Unaware

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

rense.com

Thousands In UK 'Unaware 
They Have HIV' 
Increase In Infections Largely 
Due To African Immigrants 
BBC News
11-26-4
 
The number of people with HIV in the UK is still rising with 53,000
adults now living with the virus, figures show. 
  
More than a quarter - 27% - do not know they have the infection, which
could be as many as 14,300 people. 
  
There were 6,606 new HIV infections diagnosed, the Health Protection
Agency said, but that could rise to 7,000 once all the data are
collected. 
  
The new figures come as the government announced a £300m investment to
tackle the UK's sexual health crisis. 
  
The increase in HIV diagnoses compares with 6,017 cases in 2002 and 2,835
in 1998. 
  
The increase means the UK faces rising costs as well as ill health with
each HIV infection estimated to cost between £500,000 and £1m in
treatment and lost productivity. 
  
Dr Kevin Fenton, author of the HPA's Focus on Prevention report, said the
increase in the number of infections diagnosed was "the result of a
combination of factors". 
  
"But it is largely contributed to by the migration of people from areas
of the world where there is a high prevalence of HIV, such as sub-Saharan
Africa," he said. 
  
Distribution changes 
  
Of the 6,606 new cases diagnosed in 2003, 58% - 3,801 - were among
heterosexuals while gay and bisexual men accounted for 1,735, or 26%. 
  
The number of new infections diagnosed in gay and bisexual men was the
highest for 10 years, Dr Fenton said. 
  
The distribution of HIV cases has changed in the past decade, moving away
from gay men and into heterosexual adults. 
  
In 1994, only 31% of new cases were in heterosexuals. 
  
This percentage had almost doubled to 58% by last year. 
  
The number of heterosexual diagnoses likely to have been acquired in this
country had increased from 139 in 1998 to 341 in 2003, he added. 
  
Two thirds of HIV infections acquired through heterosexual sex diagnosed
in 2003 were in women - 2,465. 
  
£300m investment 
  
Dr Ewen Stewart, HIV spokesman at the Royal College of GPs, said: "It is
worrying that there are now a large number of people in the UK with
undiagnosed HIV. 
  
"If people are concerned that they may have been exposed to HIV they
should contact their GP or sexual health clinic for a test." 
  
Professor Pat Troop, chief executive of the HPA, said sexual health
services were coming under increasing pressure to cope with the number of
people diagnosed with HIV and other STIs. 
  
She said: "We carried out a survey looking at waiting times in GUM
clinics which showed that fewer than a third of patients are seen at
clinics within the first 48 hours of seeking an appointment. 
  
"If people are to receive early diagnosis and treatment, these waiting
times need to be reduced." 
  
On Wednesday, the government announced a £300m investment over the next
three years in an attempt to deal with the UK's sexual health crisis. 
  
© BBC MMIV 
  
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4040457.stm<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4040457.stm>

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