The latest HIV surveillance data for 2023, published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on October 1, shows that the number of heterosexual men and women newly diagnosed in England with HIV has increased by more than 30% since 2022.
Diagnoses among heterosexual men rose by 36% (445 in 2022 to 605 in 2023) and among heterosexual women by 30% (602 in 2022 to 780 in 2023). The rise in cases was steepest for ethnic minority heterosexuals (excluding white ethnic minorities) with a 45% rise seen in this group compared to the previous year.
Following publication of the data, Robbie Currie, Chief Executive Officer of 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. We call on them to engage fully with experts in the HIV and sexual health sector, as well as marginalised voices and communities who are most directly affected by the health inequalities highlighted, and to deliver the new HIV Action Plan by the end of the summer 2025.”
Data shows that while HIV testing in sexual health services overall increased in 2022 compared to 2023, it remains lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is understood that testing allows people to have access to prevention interventions (such as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP) and ensures timely access to treatment that saves lives and prevents the virus being passed on.
Testing in sexual health clinics has increased by 34% since 2019 in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), however testing has fallen in heterosexual men (by 10%) and in heterosexual and bisexual women (by 22%) since 2019.
Overall, the number of HIV diagnoses first made in England increased by 15% from 2,451 in 2022 to 2,810 in 2023.
Dr Tamara Djuretic, Co-Head of HIV at UKHSA, said: “It is clear that more action is needed to curb new HIV transmissions, particularly among heterosexuals and ethnic minority groups. Addressing these widening inequalities, ramping up testing, improving access to PrEP and getting people started on HIV treatment earlier will all be crucial to achieving this.
“HIV can affect anyone, no matter your gender or sexual orientation, so please get regularly tested and use condoms to protect you and your partners’ health. An HIV test is free and provides access to HIV PrEP if needed. If you do test positive, treatment is so effective that you can expect to live a long healthy life and you won’t pass HIV on to partners.”