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.

Minister for public health and prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said: “This data shows we have much more work to do and brings to light concerning inequalities in access to tests and treatments. I will be working across government to ensure that we work to stop HIV transmissions for good.”

‘Worsening disparities’

The figures also show that 40% of people whose HIV was first diagnosed in England in 2023 were diagnosed at a late stage, when HIV has already started to damage the immune system.

Overall a total of 6,008 HIV diagnoses were recorded in England last year, including those previously diagnosed abroad – up 51% from 3,975 in 2022, and also up 56% from 3,859 in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

More than half (53%) of all HIV diagnoses in 2023 were among people previously diagnosed abroad.

The figures show the number of diagnoses in England among men exposed to the virus through sex with other men rose by 7%, from 761 in 2022 to 811 in 2023. There was a 7% increase in diagnoses in ethnic minority men compared with a 3% rise in white men.

For men exposed to HIV through sex with women, the number of new diagnoses first made in England rose by 36% from 445 in 2022 to 605 in 2023.

It rose by 30% from 602 to 780 among women exposed to the virus through sex with men.

Commenting on the figures, Robbie Currie, chief executive at the National Aids Trust, said: “Although there is much to celebrate with HIV treatment and prevention, the latest published HIV data in England shows clearly that a continuing lack of equity and equality is standing in the way of people being able to live well with HIV, and puts the goal of ending new cases of HIV in this country at risk.

“The UK Government must respond in full to the worsening disparities and trends that we see in this data, with a strategy, funding and action.”

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