HIV/AIds on the Rise in UK - Infected Patients will Cross 100,000 by the Year 2012: HPA Study

HIV/AIDS to rise in UK: HPA

LONDON (June 07) – It has been three decades since the first HIV/AIDS case came into light in June 1981 in Los Angeles.

To mark the 30^th anniversary of first HIV/AID; UK-based Health Protection Agency (HPA) presented a new report that suggests that number of HIV/AIDS patients in UK could rise to 100,000 by the end of next year.

The latest available figure of HIV patients is 86,500 (according to 2009) in UK which could rise to 100,000, according to HPA. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has predicted the rise assuming different factors unchanged like encouraging behaviour change, more prevention, routine testing as part of expanded HIV testing policies, and earlier diagnosis.

The data collected by HPA for the latest study shows that since the first diagnosis of HIV was made in 1981, there have been 115,000 infections diagnosed in the UK alone. Of these people diagnosed with this once deadly infection 27,000 have developed full blown AIDS and 20,000 have died.