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HIV notifications drop by 30 per cent in Metro North and South
By Felicity Caldwell
New HIV notifications have dropped 30 per cent in the first six months of this year in the Metro North and South areas, compared to the previous five-year average.
The results, detailed in the latest HIV Foundation Queensland annual report, show the state records among the best results in the nation.
New HIV notifications drop in figures from the first six months of 2016.Credit: Jessica Shapiro
HIV Foundation Queensland chair Darren Russell said the results were encouraging, coupled with the fact that testing rates were increasing.
"We really hope that it's due to a drop in people actually contracting HIV," Dr Russell said.
"One explanation is that we've found most of it, and there's a drop in new infections.
"But we don't want to tempt the gods by saying that."
Dr Russell said the figures could be "blip" that would even out in time.
"But hopefully we are seeing a real drop," he said.
In the first six months of 2016, there were 40 newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the combined Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Service areas.
The five-year average for the first six months of 2011-15 for the two areas was 62 cases.
In the first six months of 2015, there were 51 newly diagnosed cases of HIV.
Dr Russell said increasing numbers of HIV-negative men were also using PrEP, a medication which can protect people from contracting the virus.
"Over the last couple of years in the gay community, there has been an increase in knowledge about HIV and in the ways to protect themselves, so we're seeing increased testing and increased take up of PrEP as prevention, and they may be starting to pay dividends," he said.
Dr Russell said Queensland was a leader in rapid testing, with a 17 per cent increase in rapid testing in the state over the past 12 months.
"They're highly accurate tests, they're done quickly and a lot of guys who otherwise wouldn't get tested really like the idea of the rapid test," he said.
"If they're positive, they can be started on treatment very quickly. That then stops them passing it on to anyone else so it's a very good system for diagnosing people."
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the numbers of notifications varied from year to year and could be affected by a range of factors.
"These may include accessibility and uptake of HIV testing; access to pre and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) which helps prevent HIV becoming established in the body if exposed to the virus, and safe sex behaviours such as use of condoms," Dr Young said.
In September 2015, Health Minister Cameron Dick announced Queensland would be the first state to develop a sexual health strategy.