British HIV Infections Way Up Despite Ongoing “Safe Sex” Promotion

LONDON, UK, November 25, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The United Kingdom Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recently published findings of HIV rates in 2002 for Great Britain. The report reveals a staggering 20 percent increase in HIV cases in that year.  In total, 50,000 cases have been reported in the U.K., with 5,711 new diagnoses being reported in 2002.  The increase has occurred during a time of popular support for the so-called safe sex message promoted by government agencies and celebrities.  Explanations for the abrupt increase are thought to include: an influx of HIV-infected immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa; increased transmission rates among gay men and more frequent heterosexual transmission of the virus.  The 3,305 new heterosexual cases reported in 2002 represent double the total of new cases compared with 1,691 cases among gay men.  This spells a 300 percent increase in heterosexual transmission rates since a prior 1999 report.  Of the new heterosexual cases reported, two-thirds are infected women.  The HPA report also stated that approximately a third of people with HIV in the U.K. are unaware that they have the infection, including 24 percent of HIV-positive gay men (an estimated 5,500 individuals) and 38 percent of heterosexual Africans (9,400 people).  Read the full Health Protection Agency report at:  https://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_sti/wad.htm