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Cases of HIV Transmission Via Straight Sex Double Over 4 Yearsby Kilian MelloyTuesday Nov 25, 2008 The long-held wisdom is that unprotected straight sex almost never leads to HIV transmission. That assumption is now going by the wayside, report health authorities in the United Kingdom, where the rate of HIV transmission through heterosexual contact has doubled over the course of the last four years.
A Nov. 25 article in the UK newspaper The Times reported on the increasing incidence of heterosexual contact leading to new HIV infections, and said that, according to the Health Protection Agency, nearly one-quarter of the estimated 77,400 individuals in the UK who are HIV positive may not even know their status.
Overall, MSM (men who have sex with men) still comprise the largest single demographic of HIV positive people, but in 2007 almost 50 percent of new HIV cases were the result of sex between men and women.
Because of the commonly accepted assumption that unprotected sex between the genders is "safe" in terms of HIV transmission, many of those who become infected with the virus may not get themselves tested regularly, meaning that a delay between infection and treatment may result. That delay could have an impact on how effective the eventual course of treatment is, the article said.
The article said that of those living with HIV acquired through heterosexual contact, most are of African heritage; the article further stated that up to 75 percent of those persons of African heritage who contracted HIV through straight sex had become infected from partners while abroad in Africa.
Health authorities reiterated the necessity of using condoms to help prevent the spread of HIV, at least until testing for both partners could be arranged.
Other STDs are also on the rise, the article said, quoting the HPA’s Valerie Delpech.
"Large numbers of young people in Britain are increasingly being diagnosed with [STDs] such as chlamydia, due to unsafe heterosexual sex in the community but HIV tends to affect specific groups."
Added Delpech, "[Newly diagnosed heterosexual individuals] may have been infected outside the UK after traveling to a high-prevalence area, such as sub-Saharan Africa, or had sex with someone from such an area."
Continued Delpech, "The message is to use a condom with a new sexual partner until both of you can be sure that you are not at risk."
With heterosexual who do not get regular testing, delay can mean the difference between managing the disease and living a healthy life, and dying; the article said that a delay in treatment can result in mcuh greater risk of dying less than a year after being diagnosed.
That point was underscored by a quote from the Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust, Deborah Jack, who said, "Each year a significant number of people are diagnosed with HIV, showing we still have much more to do to reduce ongoing HIV infection in the UK.
"Most worrying is the number of people who should be on HIV treatment but who in fact are not--whether because they are unaware of their infection or because they are opting not to start treatment when recommended.
"Treatment for HIV has revolutionized the condition and people with HIV can now expect a good life expectancy if they are diagnosed early and take their medication as advised. By not getting treatment people are risking their health."
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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