One in five people diagnosed with HIV in NSW contracted the virus after having heterosexual sex last year.
This is a 29 per cent increase compared to the previous six year average.
This figure is cause for concern, says the director of Short Street Sexual Health Clinic, Kogarah, Josephine Lusk.
“Knowing your HIV status means people with HIV can start treatment earlier which not only has better health outcomes, but can also help prevent it being passed on to others,” Dr Lusk said.
“Prevention is still essential and condoms are considered the best way to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections.”
Between January and June 2017, there were 747 notifications of chlamydia and 265 notifications of gonorrhoea in St George and Sutherland Shire.
But in 2017, there was a 19 per cent reduction in the number of men who have sex with men diagnosed with HIV.
The NSW Ministry of Health is investing $22.4 million in services to strengthen HIV testing, treatment and prevention across NSW.
The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District is encouraging people to get tested during HIV Testing Week (June 1-7) to help reach the goal of ending HIV transmission across NSW by 2020.
People should get tested if they have had sex when travelling in a country where HIV is common, had sex with someone from a country where HIV is common, and if they have used injecting equipment after someone else.
People can use the new Dried Blood Spot testing service – a free, easy, confidential and accurate way to test for HIV and hepatitis C at home.
To find out where to go to get tested call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink 1800 451 624 or click here to order a test.
