HIV is also an STI but unlike those previously discussed, it is seeing a reduction in new diagnoses - in 2017 20% reduction YOY.³

The reduction being driven by:

• Increased testing and early detection – especially in higher-risk men
• Improved initiation of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) - which if started within 72 hours of possible exposure, may prevent infection
• Treatment as Prevention (TasP) - HIV positive person using treatment to reduce HIV levels to a ‘non-infectious level’ reducing the risk of viral transmission.
• Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - HIV negative person using HIV drugs to protect against catching HIV.

It is important for anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV to get medical advice quickly, so the appropriate treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.

People whose infection is diagnosed late have a 10fold risk of dying within 1st year of being diagnosed and increased risk of transmission to others⁴.

If left untreated an individual may develop AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) which is the name used to describe the potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when the immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

AIDS cannot be transmitted to another person to but the HIV virus can.