Record number of HIV diagnoses reported in New Zealand

Mar 23 2009

New Zealand reported 184 HIV diagnoses last year, the highest on record, according to recently released statistics from University of Otago's AIDS Epidemiology Group, the NZPA/New Zealand Herald reports.

The previous record high was 183 diagnoses in 2005. According to the epidemiology group, 152 people contracted the virus through sexual contact, including 91 men who have sex with men, and 39 men and 22 women who were exposed through heterosexual contact. Two cases involved injection drug use, and another two cases involved blood transfusions that occurred overseas. According to the statistics, four infants contracted HIV through mother-to-child transmission.

In addition, the statistics indicate that 43 people received AIDS diagnoses. According to the report, safer-sex practices, HIV testing, and the prevention and treatment of other sexually transmitted infections should be emphasized to reduce the spread of HIV. In addition, it said that prevention efforts should focus on minority groups (NZPA/New Zealand Herald, 3/20).