HIV has continued to rise in Ireland, new figures from the Dublin AIDS Alliance (DAA) show.
On Irish AIDS Day (June 15), the DAA revealed that there were 341 new HIV diagnoses in Ireland in 2012, a seven per cent increase on 2011 figures.
Susan Donlon, Prevention Education and Training Coordinator, said the highest proportion of new HIV diagnoses was among men having sex with men (MSM).
“This is the highest number of new HIV diagnoses ever recorded for MSM in Ireland,
? she said.
“We have seen a 180 per cent increase in HIV diagnoses among MSM over the past 10 years (from 76 in 2003 to 166 in 2012), and significantly, more than one third (36 per cent) of MSM newly diagnosed in 2012 were aged younger than 30 years.
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The 2012 data is contained in the latest HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) HIV & AIDS report that shows how a total of 6,629 people have been newly diagnosed with HIV in Ireland since the early 1980s to the end of 2012.
It revealed that sex between men is the predominant mode of HIV transmission in Ireland and MSM is the most affected population group by HIV in Ireland.
“Targeted initiatives such as the Man2Man programme are fundamental to reaching population groups most at risk of HIV infection,
? Ms Donlon added.
“However, if we are to see any reduction in the incidence of new infections, consistent messages over a sustained period of time are required and must be resourced.
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Ireland’s first National Sexual Health Strategy is currently being developed to promote the integration of HIV prevention and health services within a broader sexual health context.