Epidemiology of newly diagnosed HIV infection in New South Wales, 1994?2003

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is caused by a retrovirus transmitted from person to person via infected blood and body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. Most persons infected with HIV develop detectable antibodies within one to three months of infection. People with this disease are able to transmit HIV throughout their life. 1 The control of HIV remains an important public health challenge with an estimated 38 million persons infected worldwide. 2 NSW has approximately 57 per cent of all newly diagnosed HIV infections in Australia. 3 Surveillance for new HIV infections enables health departments to identify groups at risk and to monitor long-term trends in the disease, which in turn informs the development of prevention policies and programs. This review presents an analysis of new notifications of HIV infections among NSW residents for the period January 1994 to December 2003. metHODS In NSW there are seven HIV reference pathology laboratories. These laboratories confirm HIV infections and notify positive clinical specimens. Under the NSW Public Health Act 1991, all HIV reference pathology laboratories in NSW are required to notify the NSW Department of Health of persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection.