Photo: 123RF
HIV cases were up last year, but researchers say an overall downward trend in cases is encouraging.
Figures released on Thursday by the University of Otago AIDS Epidemiology Group show 97 people were diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand in 2023, compared to 77 in 2022 and 67 in 2021.
However, the figures represented a 30 percent drop from the annual average of 138 diagnoses between 2016 and 2020.
Group leader Dr Sue McAllister said the low number of diagnoses in 2021 and 2022 were likely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Therefore, even though there was an increase in 2023, the overall downward trend of diagnoses continues which is encouraging," she said.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were the group most affected. Of the 97 people diagnosed in the country last year, 65 were MSM, 17 were heterosexually acquired (10 women and 7 men), and for 15 people the means of acquisition was reported as other or unknown.
Of those 65 MSM, aged between 19 and 74 years, 43 were reported to have acquired HIV in New Zealand - an increase from the previous two years but a 37 percent decline from the annual average of 68 over the preceding five years (2016 to 2020).
In men and women who were reported to have acquired HIV heterosexually, the numbers remained small and relatively stable over the past decade.
There was a large increase (123) in people living in New Zealand who were first diagnosed with HIV overseas, compared to an annual average of 57 per year between 2018 and 2022.
McAllister said this was likely a reflection of the recent increase in overall immigration to New Zealand, and recent changes to immigration policies allowing people living with HIV to migrate.
People living with diagnosed HIV made up less than 0.1 per cent of migrant arrivals in 2023.
"It is important to remember that, with advances in treatment, people living with HIV can lead long and fulfilling lives and those who are on effective treatment cannot pass HIV on to their sexual partners," McAllister said.
Data from Pharmac showed there were 3272 people receiving subsidised antiretroviral therapy at the end of June 2023.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa chief executive Joe Rich said the general downward trend was promising, but continued resourcing was needed.
"We have an ambitious goal of being the first country in the world with no new local HIV transmissions and that is only possible with continued investment so at-risk communities can continue to access testing, prevention methods, and treatment for people living with HIV," he said.
Of the 43 MSM with locally acquired HIV, 19 people or 44 percent were diagnosed within about 14 months following infection. This could indicate that recent social marketing campaigns and community outreach, to increase testing numbers, funded by the HIV Action Plan, were effective.
"Early diagnosis and access to treatment leads to better health outcomes and helps prevent further transmission."
New research out of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, showed that among the MSM surveyed, the proportion of participants using self-tests at home and rapid HIV tests at events has increased from 7.5 percent in 2014 to 23.4 percent in 2022.
There were 14 people diagnosed with AIDS and six deaths from AIDS in 2023.
"It's concerning to be seeing a significant number of late diagnoses. It's important our communities are in regular systems of testing for HIV and other STIs suitable to their sexual needs," Rich said.
The National HIV Action Plan's goal was for both local transmissions and AIDS-related deaths to be zero by 2030.
[https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018844932/hiv-and-the-road-to-zero-new-infections
Listen / read The Detail on HIV and the road to zero new infections]