HIV Ireland
NewsDesk Weekly
21 October 2016
HIV
HPSC - Weekly HIV & STIs Report - Week 41, 2016
Latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show a total of 6 new cases for week 41 - 2016, bringing the total to 409 HIV new notifications for 2016 to date.
Healthy Ireland Survey 2015-2016 Full Report
The annual Healthy Ireland Survey, commissioned by the Department of Health, has examined 7,500 people aged 15 and over. The Survey provides up-to-date data on various topics including sexual health, mental health, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Highest rate of HIV diagnoses in Republic recorded in 2015
The Irish Times, 20 October 2016
Figures from HSE show that HIV positive rate was almost twice that of other EU states.
Second case report of PrEP failure due to drug-resistant virus
Aidsmap, 18 October 2016
HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P 2016) Conference: A PrEP user in New York City has become HIV positive with a virus with multiple resistance mutations.
Despite Second Case of HIV, PrEP Still 'Most Effective Tool for HIV Prevention'
The Body, 18 October 2016
HIV expert Howard Grossman explains the specifics of the second case of PrEP failure.
'Curiosity About Any Failure of PrEP Is Healthy Because It Is So Extremely Rare'
The Body, 18 October 2016
Experts are planning to develop a protocol to track people who experience the very rare event of acquiring HIV while on PrEP.
New research reveals more people than ever living with HIV in Northern Ireland
Belfast Live, 20 October 2016
The last year has seen a 15% increase in HIV diagnosis. Northern Ireland HIV campaigners are now calling for a Sexual Health Promotion Strategy focusing on awareness raising and education.
See also:
Living with HIV: ‘We should not be made to feel like lepers’
The Irish Times, 20 October 2016
Five people describe their experience living with HIV in Northern Ireland.
The Undetectable = Uninfectious Doubters
Positive Lite, 18 October 2016
If your virus is undetectable you can’t transmit HIV, but why do some people living with HIV and their service providers struggle with that concept, or even deny its truth?
Mum floored by shock HIV diagnosis after 30 years of symptoms: ‘My reaction was awful - I just thought I was going to die imminently’
Irish Independent, 19 October 2016
A British mother has spoken about the life-altering moment doctors told her she was HIV Positive. The woman had remained undiagnosed for more than 30 years.
Brryan Jackson: My father injected me with HIV
BBC News, 19 October 2016
When Brryan Jackson's father injected his son's infant body with a syringe full of HIV-infected blood, he hoped he'd never see him grow up.
Feds sue Houston club for firing waitress over HIV rumor
Centre Daily, 16 October 2016
A nightclub owner is accused of asking a waitress to provide health records to disprove that she was HIV-positive. The waitress was fired after she refused to provide documentation. The Federal Government has subsequently sued the nightclub for discrimination.
I slept with 6 other ladies, says man accused of infecting girlfriend with HIV
Vanguard, 17 October 2016
A Nigeria-based Irish man has been accused of infecting a woman with HIV.
A startling reminder that HIV isn’t just for gays
Beta Blog, 10 October 2016
HIV affects people of every race, age, sex, and gender identity, and their exclusion from the HIV community can be a problem.
How well do condoms protect gay men from HIV?
Beta Blog, 17 October 2016
A CDC study examines condoms’ effectiveness for HIV prevention among gay men, taking in consideration sexual roles and consistency of use. Condoms are still an easily accessible and affordable prevention tool that can be used in addition to PrEP in order to prevent STIs transmission.
Anal sex may transmit four in ten HIV infections in US women at high risk
Aidsmap, 19 October 2016
HIVR4P 2016 Conference: a new study suggests that, in women at high risk of HIV infection, 40% or more of the HIV infections in this group might be transmitted via anal intercourse.
Policy makers’ inaction is leading people to take PrEP ‘in the wild’
Aidsmap, 19 October 2016
HIVR4P 2016 Conference: The lack of PrEP provision and regulations in many countries is leading people to take PrEP without medical supervision, undermining the safety and effectiveness of PrEP.
See also:
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures: DIY PrEP in Europe
AVAC, 17 October 2016
See also the full
PrEP Access in Europe Report by PiEi (PrEP in Europe Initiative),a coalition of European organisations and activists campaigning for HIV prevention and access to PrEP.
Norway to provide free HIV-preventing PrEP drugs to at-risk gay men
Pink News, 20 October 2016
Norway is going to make HIV-preventing PrEP drugs available through its National Health Service.
European delays on HIV prevention drug endanger gay men and others at risk of HIV
AIDSMAP, 18 October 2016
HIV organisations, activists and campaigners are urging authorities to make PrEP available to groups at risk of HIV.
Ghana passes law to fight discrimination against persons living with HIV
Xinhua News, 19 October 2016
According to the new bill, a person who discriminates against a HIV-positive person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment.
7 Insurers Alleged To Have Discriminated Against HIV Patients
NPR, 18 October 2016
Several US insurers don't cover drugs essential to HIV treatment or require high out-of-pocket spending by patients, therefore discouraging people living with HIV from buying a particular health plan or getting the treatment they need.
BRICS countries underline the imperative of advancing cooperation and action on HIV and tuberculosis
UNAIDS, 17 October 2016
Press release: At the close of the 2016 BRICS Summit in Goa, India, leaders of the BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) have underlined the imperative of advancing cooperation and action to respond to the epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis.
Crohn’s disease drug produces long-lasting viral undetectability and T-cell restoration off treatment in monkeys
Aidsmap, 14 October 2016
A drug used to treat gut inflammation has produced persistent viral load control and T-cell restoration in monkeys taken off antiretroviral therapy.