HIV Scotland
promoting positive change
promoting positive change
Fast and accurate facts on HIV in Scotland, which include data right up to the end of third quarter of 2012. We've also included information on related factors such as STI's, where data influences HIV infection.
HIV testing almost doubled in Scotland for the five years to 2008. Amongst MSM, for the same period, HIV testing saw a three-fold increase with 80% of all tests being undertaken in GUM settings.
(Wallace, Gaycon 2010)
During the first nine months of 2012, NHS Scotland laboratories reported positive HIV-antibody test results for 260 individuals not previously recorded as HIV-positive. Based on these data, it is anticipated that the annual total for 2012 will be similar to that reported in 2010 (360) and 2011 (367) but lower than that reported in 2009 (421).
Of the 260 recently reported HIV-positive individuals, 195 (75%) are male, and 157 (60%) are aged between 25 and 44 years. The probable route of transmission was men who have sex with men (MSM) in 96 cases, heterosexual intercourse in 89 cases, and injecting drug use in 11 cases. Of the heterosexual cases, 64 probably acquired their infection abroad. Two cases of perinatal transmission, and two of blood/blood products transfer were reported, all of which were determined to have been infected outwith the UK. For 59 cases, the transmission category is, as yet undetermined. (HPS 2012)
The cumulative total of known total of HIV-positive individuals ever reported in Scotland is now 6613, of whom 4774 (72%) are male and 1839 (28%) are female. At least 1783 (27%) are known to have died.
Taking account of deaths, cases known to have left Scotland, and cases presumed to have left Scotland, it is estimated there are 4315 individuals in Scotland living with HIV.
Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) increases the risk of HIV infection: in 2008 over 29,000 acute STIs were diagnosed in Scotland.
This virus is closely associated with HIV, mainly through injecting drug use. Co-infection with HIV and Hepatitis C can cause complex health and treatment problems. In 2010 there were 2,129 new cases of people diagnosed with hepatitis C. It is estimated that the number of undiagnosed hepatitis C antibody-positive cases in Scotland still exceeds the number of diagnosed cases. Thanks to the Hepatitis C Action Plan the numbers of people initiated on Hepatitis C treatment doubled from around 450 in 2008 to 900 in 2010. (see Health Protection Scotland)
(Data provided by UNAIDS)
It is estimated that there is approximately 34 million (between 31.4 million and 35.3 million) people globally living with HIV, of which 30.8 million (29.2 million – 32.6 million) are adults, 15.9 million (14.8 million – 17.2 million) are women and 2.5 million (1.6 million – 3.4 million) are children aged under 15 years.
There were 2.7 million new HIV infections among adults and children in 2011- long way from the vision of getting to zero. Despite impressive gains, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 72% of all new HIV infections and new HIV infections are rising in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. HIV preventation gains can be accelerated if all the current HIV preventation options are made available to people at risk in a smart and efficient manner.
Globally, in 2011 an estimated 1.7 million people died from AIDS. This is half a million fewer people died from AIDS related illnesses than six years earlier (2005). It's a dramatic turning point. In 14 countries, AIDS related deaths dropped by more than 50% between 2005 and 2011.