HIV infections expected to rise

Posted Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:25am AEDT

A study focusing on HIV infection trends in Australian gay men is predicting a substantial increase in HIV infection in some states over the next seven years.

The report released today by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research predicts a 73 per cent rise in HIV infections in Victoria and a 20 per cent rise in Queensland by 2015.

But the infection rate is predicted to show a slight decrease in New South Wales.

Researcher Dr David Wilson says reduced condom usage and a rise in other sexually transmitted diseases is expected to contribute to the increase.

"If somebody's HIV positive and have another infection such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, herpes, then they are 200 to 500 per cent more likely to transmit HIV to a susceptible person," he said.

Dr Wilson says increased promotion of safe sex is the most effective way to stop the rise HIV transmission.