Dirty gays still the BIGGEST contributors to AIDS 28 years on

Gay men risk of HIV 'still high'

Gay men are being urged to get HIV tests more regularly and practise

safe sex in a bid to halt the high numbers of new cases in the UK.

The Health Protection Agency made the warning after new diagnoses

among gay men topped 2,600 for the third year.

But the figures do seem to have begun to plateau after a surge at the

turn of the century.

Overall, the number of new cases hit an estimated 6,840 in 2007 - a

fall of 1,400 from the previous year.

Gay men continue to be the group most at risk of acquiring HIV within

the UK

Dr Valerie Delpech

The HPA said this was mostly due to a decline in cases among those

infected heterosexually in Africa.

But experts said the new cases among gay men was still at worrying

levels.

There were 2,630 diagnoses - a slight fall on previous years, but much

higher than the annual figures in the 1990s which tended to hover

around 1,500.

HPA head of HIV surveillance Dr Valerie Delpech said: "Gay men

continue to be the group most at risk of acquiring HIV within the UK.

"We need to reinforce the safe sex message for gay men that the best

way to protect yourself from contracting HIV is practising safe sex by

using a condom with all new and casual partners."

She also urged more regular testing so treatment could be started

earlier and to reduce the risk of transmission to partners.

The figures are only provisional as they also take into account the

expected delays in diagnosis.

The Department of Health has announced a review of national HIV

prevention programmes.

Genevieve Clark, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said it was "good

news" that the figures for gay men seemed to be levelling off.

But she warned the number of cases was still too high and called for

easier access to testing as some places had long waits for access to

sexual health clinics.

Deborah Jack, of the National AIDS Trust, said: "It is a concern that

HIV diagnoses are still increasing among gay men and heterosexuals

infected in the UK.

"Alongside improved prevention we urgently need better HIV testing

strategies.

"HIV is often not picked up early enough by health professionals and

late diagnoses increase the liklihood of HIV being passed on, as well

as greatly reducing the health prospects of people living with HIV."

A Department of Health spokesman said money had been invested in

recent years to improve waiting times.

Story from BBC NEWS: