HIV continues to spread among gay men in Britain, according to alarming new figures.
2007 and 2008 between them saw the highest levels of diagnoses of gay men with infection since records began in the 1980s, according to the Health Protection Agency.
One factor is that improved treatment has encouraged more men to come forward for testing for the virus, which leads to AIDS.
But 20 per cent of the two cases were still identified too late to begin the most effective treatment, the HPA said.
The figures show some 7,370 new diagnoses of HIV infection in 2008. Of these some 2,830 were linked to gay sex.
This compared with 3,050 diagnoses of gay men in 2007 – a figure more than twice that in 1999.
Dr Barry Evans, of the HPA, said: “The number of gay men diagnosed as HIV positive each year is still high and shows that a large number of individuals are still being infected.
“Gay men continue to be the group in the UK most at risk of acquiring HIV and latest national guidelines recommend that gay men should test annually.
“Safe sex is the best way to protect against HIV infection. Using a condom with all new or casual partners is the surest way to ensure you do not become infected with a serious sexually transmitted infection such as HIV.”
The figures show a decline in cases linked to infection overseas and an in rates of heterosexual infection within Britain – from 500 cases in 2002 to 1,090 in 2008.
Professor Maria Zambon, of the HPA, added: “The key to improving diagnosis of HIV and reducing risk of transmission is in enabling easier access to testing through different healthcare settings including general practice, and looking at innovative ways to target those communities most at risk including gay men and black African heterosexuals.”
* Meanwhile scientists warn today of the threat of drug-resistant forms of the virus.
A new study, reported to the Society for General Microbiology conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire, shows these forms of virus are not confined to people receiving drug treatment.
Professor Deenan Pillay, an HPA expert at University College, London, said scientists might have underestimated “the number and size of the reservoirs of drug resistant virus in the United Kingdom”.
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