HIV diagnoses in England rise by 15%

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By Sarah Lowden

The number of new HIV cases in England rose by 15% between 2022 and 2023, the latest data shows.

There were 2,451 in 2022 compared to 2,810 in 2023, according to HIV surveillance data published by the UK Health Security Agency.

It puts the government’s goal of ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030 in doubt.

Heterosexual men and women saw the steepest rise in cases (more than 30%) and the increase in cases was steepest for ethnic minority heterosexuals (excluding white ethnic minorities) with a 45% rise compared to the previous year.

Dr Tamara Djuretic, Co-Head of HIV at UKHSA, said it was “clear that more action is needed to curb new HIV transmissions” and said “ramping up testing, improving access to PrEP and getting people started on HIV treatment earlier will all be crucial” to addressing the widening inequalities.

UKHSA said it was working with partners to explore the reasons for this rise in new diagnoses, and said contributing factors may include the contribution of the opt-out blood-borne virus testing in emergency departments (ED) programme, clinics not reporting some diagnoses which have been previously diagnosed abroad, or underlying transmission.