The global spread of HIV is in decline. At its peak in 1996, 3.5 million people became infected. In 2008, it was 2.7 million. But HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the world's biggest killers. It is estimated that over 60 million have been infected worldwide with HIV and 25 million people have died from HIV related illness, including children and elderly carers of the sick.
In the UK, the number of people living with HIV continues to rise. According to 2008 figures, approximately 83,000 people are infected. The biggest rise has been amongst heterosexual couples (from 740 in 2004 to 1130 in 2008). This is accompanied by a rise in gay and bisexual men. There is a generation of people out there who grew up after HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s and think that AIDS is gone. Over a quarter of people with HIV are not even aware that they are infected. If people do not heed safe-sex messages, HIV rates will further rise and more people will unwittingly become exposed to HIV.
HIV is a blood borne illness that weakens the immune system and leads to AIDS. In recent years, there have been medical advances which reduce and delay the damage to the immune system. However, there is still no cure for HIV. The best defence is prevention of exposure to HIV. Men and women are urged to use condoms or abstain from unprotected sex. Common myths about condoms include that they violate trust in a relationship or they are too expensive and diminish sexual pleasure. These are untrue. Condoms are the best protection against the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at whatever stage of a relationship. It can take some time for HIV virus to be detected so people can be exposed to it at the start of a new relationship, in an overlapping relationship or when in a relationship for some months. Research has shown that individuals only need to have had 2 or more partners in the last year and their likelihood of being exposed to HIV and STIs is greatly increased.
If prevention fails, early detection of the HIV virus is essential. That way, drug treatment can be started immediately to prevent the onset of AIDS and help people to live longer with good quality of life. Information on HIV/AIDS and where you can be tested can be obtained from GPs, sexual health clinics, youth centres, Terence Higgins Trust, school health drop-ins and community groups.