HIV INFECTIONS increased by 21 per cent last year, and more than half of these infections were acquired through heterosexual contact, according to the Dublin Aids Alliance (DAA).
"HIV among the heterosexual population is rising. People need to be aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions," said Mary O'Shea, executive director of DAA, in response to the latest figures as reported to the HSE's health protection surveillance centre.
More than 200 newly-diagnosed cases were reported in the first half of 2007 compared with 337 for all of 2006. The transmission route for 150 of these cases is known. Some 53 per cent of new infections were as a result of heterosexual contact, while drug injection and male homosexual contact resulted in about 20 per cent of new cases each.
"The rise in diagnosis of HIV is of serious concern, and reinforces the fact that continuing awareness on HIV is need. The figures show that more work is required in developing sexual health and prevention strategies nationally," said Ms O'Shea.
Some 40 per cent of the newly-infected people were born in Ireland, and 42 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the country of origin was known in only 121 of the new cases of HIV.
More than half of those diagnosed were men with an average age of 33. Women made up 39 per cent of infections where gender was known. Of the 108 residences known, 78 per cent lived in Dublin, Wicklow or Kildare.
To tackle the growth in HIV infections the DAA called on the expansion of primary healthcare to include services for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), as well as the setting up of a national sexual health strategy.
The group also called for the expansion of the school sexual education programme for primary and Junior Cert pupils to include senior-cycle, second-level students.
