1 in 4 people with HIV in UK undiagnosed

More than one in four people with HIV are undiagnosed, according to figures released by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The total number of people with HIV in the UK is estimated to be 85,500 (at 2009), but it's estimated that more than a quarter - 22,500 people - are unaware they have been infected with the virus.

The good news is that the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV has fallen for the fourth year in a row, to 6,630, including 4,400 men and 2,230 women. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the number of undiagnosed cases has declined in the last 10 years.

The HPA also reported that more than half of new cases of HIV were diagnosed late, when treatment should already have started.

HPA spokeswoman Dr Valerie Delpech expressed concern that "a large number of people in the UK are unaware of their HIV status and that half of all newly diagnosed people are diagnosed late, meaning they may not benefit from very effective treatments."

Across the UK, around 1.4 per 1,000 people are living with HIV. But in some parts of the UK these rates are much higher. Some 26 of 37 primary care trusts in England have rates higher than 2 people per 1,000 of the population, including London, where 5.24 per 1,000 people are diagnosed. Brighton and Manchester also have infection rates above 5 per 1,000 people living there.

Dr Delpech said: "Thanks to the development of anti-retroviral treatments and universal access to world class health care through the NHS, HIV is a manageable illness for the vast majority of people in this country.

"The HPA would like to see increased access to HIV testing in areas where rates of HIV infection are high.

"Pilot studies have shown that in these areas testing all adults registering at GPs or accessing certain hospital services can make an impact."

The HPA recommends that people who are at higher risk of HIV infection, such as men who have sex with men and black Africans living in the UK should know their status and consider being tested regularly.

They also recommend that everyone should use a condom with all new or casual sexual partners as this is the best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

This article was published on Fri 26 November 2010