The Robert Koch Institute published its new Epidemiological Bulletin today. The good news: there has been no significant change in the total number of new diagnoses. However, the number of younger gay men has risen.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was notified of 2,918 HIV diagnoses last year. This means that there was "no significant change" in 2010 compared to 2009 (2,885 HIV infections). This is according to the Epidemiological Bulletin No. 21/2011 of the RKI.
Based on these figures, the RKI still estimates that around 3,000 people are infected with HIV in Germany every year. (New diagnoses should not be confused with new infections. In the case of diagnoses, the number of positive HIV tests reported is counted. In the case of new infections, the RKI estimates how many people have actually been infected with HIV in a year).
In the group of men who have sex with men (MSM), the number of new diagnoses rose by 2%, from 1646 to 1684. "However, such small changes in the reported diagnoses are not an indication of an increase in new infections in this group," emphasises Axel J. Schmidt from the RKI. Fluctuations of this magnitude are normal.
Most HIV diagnoses among gay men are still made in the 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 age groups. However, there has hardly been any increase since 2007. In contrast, there has been a significant increase among gay men under 30.
The age group of 20 to 24-year-olds is the most affected: 213 diagnoses were reported here in 2010, compared to 179 in 2009 (data as of 30 May 2011). In relation to the number of all 20 to 24-year-old men, the frequency of HIV diagnoses in this group has risen continuously in recent years, by 19 per cent last year.
According to the RKI, one reason for the higher figures is the increased willingness to be tested: more HIV tests also produce more HIV-positive results. However, the RKI assumes that there are actually more and more infections in this age group. However, the reason is not an increase in risk behaviour. There are essentially three reasons:
1. there are more HIV-positive people in this age group who are not yet being treated with HIV medication. They therefore have a higher viral load and can pass on HIV more easily.
2. younger people are more frequently infected with other sexually transmitted pathogens, such as chlamydia or gonococci. These increase the risk of HIV transmission.
3. according to the results of the EMIS study, younger gay men are more willing to do without condoms if their partner claims to be HIV-negative - which of course does not necessarily correspond to the facts.
And there is another reason: "Younger people are not yet as experienced in dealing with condoms and sexual situations," says DAH gay counsellor Dirk Sander. "There are indications that they therefore find it more difficult than older people to successfully put their need for protection into practice."
(Holger Wicht)
