HIV cases nearly double in 10 years

The Health Protection Agency has released figures showing that the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV has nearly doubled in the last decade.

New cases soared from 1,950 in 2001 to 3,780 in 2010.

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at the HPA, said: “There are excellent treatment options available nowadays but these are only at their most effective if the infection is diagnosed early, before symptoms appear.”

The biggest rise came among gay men, who saw a 70% rise, the figures showed. There was also an increase among heterosexual people.

There is also a racial dimension, with black African people at a higher risk. Professor Mike Kelly, of NICE, said: “For many people of black African heritage, there is a fear that being diagnosed HIV-positive will result in social exclusion or racism and prejudice from both inside and outside their community.”