AIDS Also in Stuttgart more new HIV infections

AIDS: HIV infections are also rising in Stuttgart

08/11/2013

The topic of AIDS was no longer a major topic in public for a long time. But now that the South African actress Charlize Theron has made headlines with her fight against the immunodeficiency syndrome and the German Aids Foundation presented her annual report, the topic is again on everyone's lips. The number of infections is also rising in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart behind Cologne
According to a survey by the German AIDS Foundation, the number of new HIV infections in major German cities is particularly high. Most new infected people exist in Cologne. Stuttgart is just behind with 12.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants who are newly infected with HIV. Alfons Stetter of the AIDS-Hilfe Stuttgart gave the "Stuttgarter-Zeitung" some answers to the situation in the Baden-Württemberg capital.

Number of infected increases
Stetter can not clearly explain why the number of newly infected with HIV in Stuttgart is so high, higher than in Berlin or Hamburg. A statement he made to the Stuttgarter Zeitung: "Many, for example, have been infected for ten years, can only be tested now. And many who can be tested in the big cities, come from the surrounding area. "But it is clear that the number of new infected increases.

Around 80,000 HIV-infected people
In Germany, the number of new infections per year was still at 2,000 people, now there are 3,400. "We are also seeing an increase of more than 50 percent. But that's also because today many more people can be tested than before, "says Stetter. Nationwide, there are about 80,000 reported infected and even the dark figure would not be much higher. In terms of the total population, this means that about every thousandth would be infected. For Stuttgart, one could assume that there are more than 1,000 infected people in the city, since the density in a city is higher than in the countryside.

Forget and displace
Dipl. Theologian Stetter referred to the increased willingness to test. Ten years ago, if one did not expect to live long with the disease, there would be good therapeutic options if HIV was diagnosed early after an infection. In general, however, the topic has become rather quiet and therefore warns the expert: "If HIV goes unnoticed in public, that is an evolutionary advantage for the virus. And you know that you can be treated today. This leads to oblivion and repression. "

Many sufferers already retired
Social worker Stetter also took a stand on the neediness of people living with HIV in Stuttgart: "We also make many applications to the Aids Foundation for HIV-Positive in Need. In all counseling centers, there are already 100 applications coming together per year. These are not a few. "Many sufferers, who are now well treated, have retired quite a few years ago and often live from transfer payments.

A 16-year-old infected person
The proportion of women among people who become infected with HIV is about 20 percent. In general, those affected are on average about 40 years old. However, very young people are included, especially gays. So in the past year in Stuttgart, a 16-year-old has been among them and this year there have already been several new infected in the early 20s. "It's often young people who live happily. And lust is known to kick away reason when it comes to sex. "

Charlize Theron in the fight against AIDS
Since the early 1980s, when AIDS became known, there are numerous myths about the disease, some of which have become dangerous levels. Even in Europe, there are still people who dismiss the immunodeficiency syndrome as a problem of homosexuals and drug addicts. However, the situation in Africa is much more difficult. The president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, once said that he protected himself from unprotected sex by showering in front of HIV. However, South African Oscar winner Charlize Theron, in an interview with Welt am Sonntag, put into perspective: "If someone like him admits mistakes and is now leading one of the most offensive programs in the fight against HIV, that is no less than a miracle. He deserves respect. "The 37-year-old, with the support of the" Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria ", runs her own aid organization" Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. "(Ad)