Italy

Abstract

This chapter reviews Italy's response to its HIV epidemic. More than twenty years after the diagnosis of the first case of AIDS, the pattern of the HIV epidemic in Italy has significantly changed. A particular feature of the Italian case is that heterosexual transmission has been increasing, mainly as a result of sexual contact with injecting drug users (IDUs). This reflects the fact that, despite a number of local success stories, Italy has not been successful in preventing the spread of HIV infection both among and from IDUs.