Heath experts say a drop in HIV transmission rates is positive, but a seeing rates fall across a wider sector of the population would mark a stronger win.
The latest quarterly data released by NSW Health showed a 27 per cent drop in newly diagnosed cases of HIV transmission in NSW.
There were 60 new cases of HIV infection from April to June this year, down from the average of 82.4 cases for the same quarter from the past five years.
The NSW HIV Strategy Data Report – Quarter 2 revealed there was a 24 per cent reduction in the number of newly diagnosed cases among men having sex with other men (MSM) and a 30 per cent decrease in heterosexual people.
The results coincide with a six per cent increase in the number of HIV tests compared with the same period last year, with 147,464 tests carried out in in the April-June quarter, compared with 138,592 last year.
The highly successful trial of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – the use of antiretroviral drugs traditionally used to treat HIV infection, was made available to 9477 people at risk of HIV from 1 March 2016 to 30 April 2018.
PrEP is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) following its listing on April 1, 2018.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant says the results show that the state is on track to achieving its goal of eliminating HIV transmission by 2020.
“The data continues to show that efforts under the NSW HIV Strategy 2016-2020 to prevent the spread of HIV are having a significant and positive impact,” Dr Chant said.
“I’m also very pleased to see that 97 per cent of HIV-positive people who attended public clinics from April to June this year for HIV management then went on to receive treatment, which is only possible if a person is able to keep to a regime of daily medication.”
But there has been a 10 per cent rise from 60 to 66 in the number of overseas-born MSM newly diagnosed with HIV in the period from January to June 2018.
Despite improvements in access and testing, two-thirds of newly diagnosed MSM had also not had an HIV test in the 12 months prior to diagnosis.
Jospehine Lusk of Short Street Sexual Health Clinic at Kogarah says although there has been a reduction in HIV transmission rates among Australian-born gay men and men who have sex with men, a decline is not being seen among people born overseas.
“There are big efforts to reduce HIV and it’s great because it reflects successful intervention and shows it’s moving in the right direction,” she said.
“But the key message is that HIV hasn’t gone away. Particularly in the St George area where is a high proportion of non-Australian born people, the safe sex message needs to stand.
“We are seeing an increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea, and sex apps can influence that.
“Culturally linguistic and diverse backgrounds may not be accessing the services available to them. These populations are harder to get to, but we are making progress.”
In 2018-19, NSW Health is investing $21.9 million in services to strengthen HIV testing, treatment and prevention.
NSW Health is working with key partners to provide innovative testing options, education and peer support in several languages to better engage overseas-born MSM in HIV prevention and testing services.
