13 July 2005
EMBARGOED UNTIL 14 July 2005
HIV continues to climb to new records in the North West
2004 saw the largest number of new cases of HIV positive people accessing
treatment and care in the North West, according to a new report published today by
the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University.
A total of 814 new patients with HIV/AIDS were reported by North West treatment
and care agencies during 2004 – an increase of 12% from last year’s total number of
new patients (725).
These cases contribute to a total of 3,574 individuals accessing treatment and care in
the North West. The size of the HIV/AIDS positive population continues to rise
through the large increases in new cases, and because people with HIV are likely to
live longer due to life-prolonging treatments.
This year, the ninth annual report has highlighted that:
 The total number of people with HIV/AIDS presenting to services in the North
West has increased by 82% since 2001 (from 1,964 in 2001 to 3,574 in
2004).
 Merseyside has seen the largest percentage increase in new cases since
2001 (122%).
 Now, nearly 1% of male residents aged 40-44 years old in Blackpool Primary
Care Trust have HIV/AIDS.
 Over 1% of male residents aged 35-44 years old in Manchester1 have
HIV/AIDS.
Other findings include:
 The numbers exposed through men having sex with men have shown a
substantial increase, with 359 new cases in 2004 – a 20% increase on the
figure in 2003 (300).
 However, for the third year running, the main mode of exposure to HIV for
new cases is through heterosexual sex (47% of new presentations to North
West services in 2004 compared to 44% of new cases attributed to men
having sex with men).
 Three quarters of new heterosexual cases were infected while overseas.
Although this group includes businessmen and tourists travelling from the UK,
more than half are non-UK residents who are in the UK as migrant workers,
asylum seekers, overseas students, temporary visitors and others.
More follows…
1
This refers to North Manchester, Central Manchester and South Manchester Primary Care Trusts.
2..
Professor Mark A. Bellis, Director of the Centre for Public Health and co-author of the
report, comments, “As a result of continuing unprotected sex in gay and heterosexual
populations both groups are experiencing rising levels of HIV. On top of this spiralling
HIV in Africa means people coming from there to live, study or escape persecution
are also increasingly being diagnosed with HIV in the North West of England.”
Dr Penny Cook, Senior Lecturer in Communicable Diseases and lead author of the
report, explains, “The majority of those known to be non-UK residents were not
experiencing symptoms, therefore it seems unlikely that they travelled to the UK for
treatment. Their infections may have been detected during routine screening, for
example during pregnancy.”
Professor John Ashton, Regional Director of Pubic Health, said: “After 25 years the
AIDS epidemic has reached a new and worrying stage. It is now truly global, and a
threat to all sexually active adults, whatever their sexual orientation.
“The current danger is one of complacency, resulting in people thinking that they are
not personally at risk, even though the disease is amongst us wherever we are in the
world. The only way to be sure of avoiding AIDS or one or other of the sexually
transmitted infections is by fidelity within one relationship and by condom use if in
more than one relationship.”
Professor Qutub Syed, Director of Health Protection Agency North West, said: “It’s a
human tragedy that so many people are still not heeding the safer sex message or
moderating their behaviour, despite continual warnings.
“We’ve seen rises in sexually transmitted infections across the board in the UK and
now we’re seeing shocking increases in HIV and AIDS. People need to realise that
HIV is not exclusive to gay men or to people who live in sub Saharan Africa. It is a
threat to anyone who indulges in risky sexual behaviour – as are all sexually
transmitted infections.”
New cases of HIV/AIDS in the North West of England
COUNTY
2001
2002
2003
2004
Cheshire**
Cumbria*
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Merseyside**
Unknown county of
residence but known to be
living in the North West
Total known North West
residents
Unknown area of residence
/ Living out of the region
Total
32
14
246
73
41
41
10
358
86
83
39
12
419
87
109
30
16
481
97
91
3
Percentage
change from
2001 to 2004
-6
14
96
33
122
Percentage
change from
2003 to 2004
-23
33
15
11
-17
81
10
81
12
Percentage
change from
2001 to 2004
32
37
88
60
71
Percentage
change from
2003 to 2004
-2
15
22
15
-1
79
19
82
20
18
406
578
666
733
43
39
59
81
449
617
725
814
All cases of HIV/AIDS in the North West of England
COUNTY
2001
2002
2003
2004
Cheshire**
Cumbria*
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Merseyside**
Unknown county of
residence but known to be
living in the North West
Total known North West
residents
Unknown county of
residence / Living out of the
region
Total
136
63
1,103
322
220
174
63
1,371
398
293
199
75
1,703
458
381
196
86
2,078
527
376
21
79
1,865
2,299
2,816
3,342
99
130
172
232
1,964
2,429
2,988
3,574
* Figures for Cumbria include all data from Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust.
** Changes in how data were coded in 2004 have meant that more patients are
categorised as having an unknown place of residence. Although figures appear to be
decreasing, they are, in fact, stable across Cheshire and Merseyside.
-ends-
For further information or for interview requests, please contact:
Michela Morleo, Centre for Public Health
Tel: 0151 231 5859 / 07730 568114 / [email protected]
Or
Hugh Lamont, Health Protection Agency
0151 482 5728 / 07764 906 508 / [email protected]
Notes to editors


The Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moore University specialises in
applied research and educational programmes which address health issues, from
policy development to service delivery. Please visit www.cph.org.uk for more
information on the centre.
Data were collected from a total of 45 statutory centres in the North West
providing treatment and care for HIV positive people.