HIV rise amid broader slide
Print
Despite a recent rise, HIV diagnoses in Australia have shown a steady decline over the past decade.
New data from the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney reveals that 722 new cases were reported nationally in 2023, up from 553 in 2022.
Researchers attribute that rise in 2023 to the resumption of pre-pandemic behaviours, rather than a reversal of the long-term trend.
“However, encouragingly, new diagnoses are still lower than pre-pandemic levels, and there is no interruption to our long-term trend of decline,” says Dr Skye McGregor from the Surveillance Innovation Group at the Kirby Institute.
Over the past decade, Australia has seen a 33 per cent reduction in overall HIV diagnoses, with the most significant decrease occurring among Australian-born gay and bisexual men, where diagnoses have dropped by 64 per cent.
Dr McGregor credits strategies like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and effective treatments, which suppress the virus to undetectable levels, making it untransmittable.
Yet, the data highlights areas that require further attention.
A slight increase in cases among people who acquired HIV through heterosexual sex and among individuals born overseas suggests gaps in prevention efforts.
HIV testing in Australia saw a rebound in 2023 following significant declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more timely testing remains critical.
More than a third of new diagnoses were classified as late, meaning the individual may have unknowingly lived with the virus for several years.
This trend is particularly pronounced among heterosexual individuals, where over half of new cases were diagnosed late.
While HIV rates among sex workers and people who inject drugs remain low, the experts say a continued focus on peer-led prevention strategies is necessary to maintain this success.
Within the gay and bisexual male community, the data presents mixed outcomes.
Overall, diagnoses have decreased by 43 per cent over the past decade, but a small increase was observed among overseas-born men.
“We need to make sure PrEP and other prevention strategies are reaching the populations that most need them, including gay and bisexual men who were born overseas,” said Professor Andrew Grulich from the Kirby Institute.
Inconsistencies in prevention coverage also exist, particularly among younger gay and bisexual men, and those living outside metropolitan areas.
The experts say that targeted efforts to address disparities and engage vulnerable populations are key to achieving the national goal of eliminating HIV transmission.
This data comes from a snapshot released ahead of the Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference, which takes place in Sydney from 16-18 September.