Brussels, 02/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Bucking the global trend, the number of new cases of AIDS diagnosed in the EU is on the increase. The latest figures from the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) published on World AIDS Day, 1 December, reveal that, in the European Union and in the European Economic Area, 29,000 new cases were recorded in 2013.
“Despite considerable progress in the fight against the HIV/AIDS, it continues to cause much suffering to people in Europe and around the world”, said Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. In the EU, almost half (47%) of infections are diagnosed late, which reflects low testing rates often caused by fear of discrimination. Early diagnosis is of the utmost importance as a person who receives antiretroviral therapy early on will have a better health outcome and be less likely to transmit HIV to others, the commissioner stated. Progress has, nonetheless, been made in Europe. Mother to child transmission has been virtually eliminated in the EU, and the number of new infections amongst heterosexuals has been steadily declining. However, the number of new infections diagnosed in certain risk groups is rising. The commissioner has promised, during his term of office, to focus on breaking down any remaining barriers to prevention and treatment and strengthening the fundamental rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. (IL)