Significant increase in new HIV infections

Number of new HIV diagnoses in Germany has increased significantly

30.06.2014

Once again, the number of new HIV infections in Germany has increased significantly, reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its latest epidemiological Bulletin. A total of 3,263 confirmed new HIV diagnoses for 2013 were submitted to the RKI, which represents an increase of around ten percent compared to the previous year, according to the Institute's statement. Although based on the rise in HIV new diagnoses „partly due to improved data quality and increased research among the reporting physicians“, there is „but also a real increase in HIV new diagnoses.“

According to the RKI, the number of registered new HIV diagnoses in 2012 was 2,976 cases. In 2013, the number has now increased by a total of 287 new diagnoses, but this does not necessarily have to be linked to the current infection, as there are often years between the infection and the time of the first diagnosis. Much of the new infections affected men, but there was a particularly marked increase in women over the previous year.

Overall, women had 593 confirmed HIV new diagnoses in 2013, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year (453 new infections in 2012). For men, the percentage increase in new diagnoses compared to the previous year was less dramatic, albeit starting from a much higher level. In 2013, with 2,668 new HIV diagnoses, six percent more cases were observed than in 2012 (2,521 new HIV diagnoses). As the main risk group, the RKI continues to mention men who have sex with men, followed by consumers of intravenous drugs. However, a significant increase in new infections was also recorded in heterosexual persons.

Increasingly acquired infections abroad
Regarding the location of the infection, the RKI explains in its current press release that 78 percent of those affected became infected in Germany, while 22 percent acquired the HIV infection abroad. It is the „Increase in HIV infections acquired abroad, brought to Germany“ quite noticeable. Possible causes are „Increased immigration to Germany and a doubling in the number of asylum seekers compared to the previous year“, reports the RKI. Here, however, for example, imagine „the question of why an increase in HIV infections among sub-Saharan migrants has so far only been observed in women and not in men.“ This may be due to the increased testing of women during pregnancy. Also, women may have circumstances „a more direct and easier access to health care and go to the doctor rather than men“, reports the RKI. (Fp)

Picture: Gerd Altmann