HIV in gay men refuses to fall

[Osem]

Huge improvements in treating and testing for HIV have failed to curb infections in gay and bisexual men in England and Wales, a study suggests.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21277450

The Health Protection Agency said it was "seriously concerned" about the level of transmission and that unsafe sex was "the most plausible explanation" for the findings.

The safe sex message clearly isn't getting across as in 2011:

The number of gay and bisexual men being diagnosed with HIV in the UK reached an "all-time high" in 2011, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20526380

I really don't understand why anyone (gay or otherwise) indulging in casual sex, especially those having multiple partners, wouldn't use a condom and avoid all high risk practices...

[peanut]

Well it's not as if they don't know the risks. It takes 2 and all that. So good luck to them really.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Osem

I really don't understand why anyone (gay or otherwise) indulging in casual sex, especially those having multiple partners, wouldn't use a condom and avoid all high risk practices...

Because it's not as high risk as it used to be?

Aids no longer kills. It was a terrifying prospect when it first reared its head in the 80s, but it's become less of an issue. This may be hard to grasp for those of us that were around when it was a killer, but it's human nature.

Mmmmmm -looking at the report this news was based on, I wonder why the headline wasn't "HIV in straight people almost doubles in ten years"?. [qupte]The proportion of heterosexuals newly diagnosed with HIV estimated to have been infected in the UK has doubled from 27% in 2002 to 52% in 2011.[/quote]

[Russ]

Originally Posted by danielf

Aids no longer kills.

I think this is key. As callous as it sounds, AIDS was more 'effective' when it was seen as a death sentence as people tend not to fear it anymore. Life expectancy is something like 20 to 30 years now and a programme I saw a few months back said a cure (or at least life-long effective treatment) is likely to be just a few years away.

[Osem]

Yes, the perecption that HIV/AIDS isn't the immediate death sentence it once was may be a big factor. However, it still kills many and HIV isn't the only reason not to indulge in unsafe sex.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/Nat...mbersreleased/

31 May 2012

Figures released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show new sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses rose by two per cent in England in 2011, with nearly 427,000 new cases, reversing the small decline observed the previous year. Young heterosexual adults (15-24 years) and men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the groups at highest risk.

More information plus more education seems to result in more infection.

[Gary L]

Isn't the fact that it's doubled, increased or whatever mean that there's more gay men now?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Isn't the fact that it's doubled, increased or whatever mean that there's more gay men now?

l think more men have come forward to admit that they are openly gay and my brother is one of them and although we found it hard to believe to start with the simple fact is he is still our same beloved brother at the end of the day.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by denphone

the simple fact is he is still our same beloved brother at the end of the day.

Nice to hear. I've heard terrible stories of people having very strained relationships with their families once they have come out.