Belgium reports almost three new cases of AIDS every day in 2015

The number of new HIV diagnoses among MSM (men who have sex with men) is rising in 2015, while the slight decline in new diagnoses among heterosexuals continues in Belgium, according to figures published on Monday.

In 2015, the number of new HIV diagnoses has seen an overall decrease (-4.7 percent). However, the number of new diagnosed cases remains high in Belgium: 1,001 new cases have been reported, which corresponds to an average of 2.7 HIV diagnoses per day, according to the data issued by the Scientific Institute of Public Health (IPH) of Belgium.

The decline, however, only concerns one of the two main risk groups in the population: those infected via heterosexual contacts, particularly those from sub-Saharan African countries.

The number of HIV screening tests has slightly decreased (-0.7 percent). In 2015, 62 HIV screening tests per 1,000 inhabitants were carried out and the proportion of new diagnoses was 1.45 per 1,000 tests.

A total of 35 percent of HIV infections have been diagnosed late. Late diagnoses are still more frequent among heterosexuals (42 percent) than among MSM (27 percent), though the proportion of late diagnoses among the latter group has been increasing for the last seven years.

Against the background of a rebound in the number of new diagnoses, MSM have become the risk group most affected by the epidemic in the population.

In Belgium, adapted medical care remains high, with more than 15,000 people being medically monitored. The effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy makes their viral load virtually undetectable, which greatly reduces the risk for their partners and, in fine the transmission of HIV. Endit