More HIV and syphilis in Saxony-Anhalt

More HIV and syphilis diseases in Saxony-Anhalt

20/10/2014

The number of new cases of syphilis and HIV has risen sharply in Saxony-Anhalt in recent years. The Aids-Hilfe believes that the infections will continue to increase. They call for an increase in the budget for the Enlightenment.

Number of infections will continue to increase
In Saxony-Anhalt more and more people are living with HIV or syphilis. The number of infections will continue to increase, warned the Managing Director of the Association of AIDS Aids in Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Warminsky. To the dpa news agency he said: „The spread of syphilis is always a warning sign that HIV infections are also increasing.“

Syphilis is curable, unlike HIV
It is sometimes unknown that syphilis is curable, unlike HIV. However, the infectious disease in the early stages is often difficult to identify. Among the possible signs of syphilis infection include reddish ulcers on the genitalia, which are initially not accompanied by pain. About two months after an infection, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches, often develop. In addition, the lymph nodes swell and it develops an itchy rash. If the disease is not recognized and treated, threatened in the long term, inter alia, organ damage. According to the latest data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of syphilis in Saxony-Anhalt has increased significantly. Accordingly, a total of 90 new cases were reported in 2013, compared with 79 in the previous year and only 35 in 2011.

Increase in the budget required
The number of new HIV infections rose to 67 in the federal state last year, compared with 55 in the previous year and only 40 in 2011. „Prevention campaigns, such as those made by the Federal Center for Health Education, remind only of dangers“, so Warminsky. However, the labor-intensive prevention work in direct contact is more important. „AIDS aids have been chronically underfunded for years.“ According to the information received the aids aids in Saxony-Anhalt in the year 188,000 euros from the state government. „This budget must be increased to at least 288,000 euros“, demanded the expert. The Aids aids currently have to raise significantly more than half of their own money, for example by raising third-party funds or by charging them for seminars. As Warminsky explained, this is the only way to deal with the chronic shortage of personnel, which has already led to the rejection of care and prevention needs. (Ad)