Mersey HIV/AIDS figs are at five-year high

Aug 14 2008 by Helen Hunt, Liverpool Echo Mersey HIV/AIDS figs are at five-year high THE number of cases of HIV/AIDS in Merseyside is at its highest point in five years. Statistics released by Liverpool John Moores University and the Health Protection Agency show the total number of cases leapt from 381 in 2003 to 664 in 2007. Today, the co-author of the report, Prof Mark Bellis, said: “While it is true that total numbers of people living with HIV across Merseyside has increased year on year this is in part due to successes with treatment that mean fewer people are dying. “The number of new cases seen across Merseyside has remained at around 120 for the past three years. “However, the vast majority of these cases could have been avoided if people practiced safe sex.” In 2003 there were 109 new cases compared with 120 cases in... [read full story]