New AIDS cases have increased 25% over the last year. Deia, News from Biscay

Gasteiz– Last year, 169 cases of HIV were diagnosed in the Basque Country, 25.1% more than in 2017, mainly due to the "trivialization of risk" and the decrease in HIV prevalence. 39; condom use, although there are also other routes of transmission, such as the use of condoms. syringes to inject drugs. A late diagnosis was made in 51.5% of cases, which means that they were detected while the immune system was already very affected.

In 2018, 1,294 badually transmitted infections (STIs) were detected, an additional 44.7%, but this increase is explained by the fact that in 2017 a specific consultation on these infections was opened in Araba. , which adds to existing ones in Bilbao and Mexico. Donostia, in its second year of activity, was much more used and therefore did a lot more diagnoses: 34 vs. 312. Here are some of the findings from the 2018 AIDS and Infection Report. badually transmitted yesterday presented by the Minister of Health, Nekane Murga, along with Dr. Antonio Arraiza, coordinator of the plan, and the president of Euskalsida, the Federation of badociations working in the field of HIV in Euskadi, Marta Pastor.

Faced with the "upward trend" of these infections, the minister announced Monday the launch of a specific awareness campaign to remind people that HIV and STIs are a current reality and that HIV "n & # 39; is not a problem overcome ", and emphasize the importance of using condoms as the best method of protection.

Not using precisely the condom and "trivializing the risk" are the two main causes of this increase, according to Arbaiza, while the counselor added that the "key" to stop the increase in the number of cases is the condom . Marta Pastor also warned against the "mirage of invulnerability" that many people feel when they think that they will never be contagious. sterile when using drugs.

In the Basque Country, 169 HIV infections were recorded last year, compared to 135 in 2017 or 158 in 2016, which represents a rate of 7.75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, one point less than the rate recorded for the entire state. above 6.1 compared to the previous year in Euskadi and 7.3 in 2016. In 2018, Osakidetza treated 5,852 patients on antiretroviral therapy with an investment of more than 22.5 million d & # 39; euros. With regard to preventive measures, 2,210 rapid HIV tests were conducted in pharmacies (which detected nine positives) and 883 self-tests performed at home. – Efe / E.P.

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