HIV infections in Germany at a sustained level

No decrease in new HIV infections in Germany
Almost 37 million people worldwide currently live with the AIDS virus HIV. Two million of them became infected in the past year. In Germany, there were around 3,200 new HIV infections in 2015. The number is unchanged compared to previous years.

3,200 new HIV infections in the past year
The United Nations has recently reached an ambitious plan: the global AIDS epidemic is scheduled to end by 2030. Already in the previous year, the UN had announced a turnaround and announced that around 40 percent fewer HIV death victims were to be lamented worldwide. However, almost 37 million people still live with the AIDS virus HIV. And there are still new infections. Around the world, around 2 million new people were infected with HIV in the past year, compared with around 3,200 in Germany.

Prevention strategy must continue to be implemented consistently
As reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin on the occasion of the new RKI estimate on HIV / AIDS in Germany, in 2015 around 3,200 new people were infected with HIV nationwide. The number is unchanged compared to previous years.

"This is also positive in comparison to many other states, but on the other hand, the lack of decline is evidence that the HIV prevention strategy of the Federal Government must continue to be consistently implemented," said RKI President Lothar H. Wieler in a press release.

Health risk in Germany
Altogether lived according to RKI end of last yearly about 84.700 humans in the Federal Republic with the immunodeficiency virus. "HIV / AIDS continues to be a health risk in Germany," says Wieler.

The group most affected by HIV are still men who have sex with men (MSM). Of the 3,200 new infections in 2015, 2,200 have been reported in MSM, a figure that has been falling slightly for several years, with 750 being transmitted by heterosexual means, 250 by intravenous drug use. In 2015, there were an estimated 460 deaths among HIV-infected individuals.

Many do not know about their infection
According to the RKI, an estimated 12,600 of the 84,700 HIV-infected people know nothing about their infection. Late diagnosis is not only associated with higher mortality and treatment costs, the infection can also be passed on unintentionally. According to the experts, in the face of this danger, the hurdles to be tested for HIV have to be reduced.

Also in medical care there are probably forced barriers that need to be recognized and reduced. Because it is believed that almost 11,000 people infected with HIV know about their infection, but they do not take any medication.

HIV does not cause noticeable symptoms for a long time
According to figures published in the current "Epidemiological Bulletin", among the 84,700 people with HIV in Germany, there are approximately 11,750 people from overseas who have been infected with HIV abroad.

The institute pointed out that the estimated new infections are not to be confused with the new diagnoses reported at the RKI. "Because HIV causes no conspicuous symptoms for many years, the time of infection can be a long time ago," say the experts.

Protect with condoms
"The recommendation to use condoms remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention and has lost none of its relevance," the statement says. Maybe in the future, the cure of AIDS could be possible, my researcher.

Just a few weeks ago, British scientists reported HIV treatment in a 44-year-old man. He had been treated with a novel therapeutic approach, which meant that the HI virus in his blood was no longer detectable.

And also in prevention research has come a long way. So it was possible to develop a drug that can reduce the number of new HIV infections in men massively. The AIDS prevention tool will in future also be authorized in the EU. (Ad)