HIV on the rise in Tasmania

7news ^ | 11.30.2012 | ABC

[Morgana]

HIV and Aids support groups in Tasmania are concerned about an increase in infection rates.

The average number of Tasmanians being diagnosed with HIV has more than doubled over the past four years to 13.

Shaun Staunton from the Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases says up until 2008 the average was five cases a year.

"So for example last year there were 15 people diagnosed so there has been quite a big jump in the last four years or so."

Mr Staunton says men as young as 18 are contracting HIV and he's worried they don't understand how the disease is contracted.

"Certainly HIV features less in the lives of young gay men because they didn't go through that period where it was very, very, visible not just in ads and public health campaigns but also the fact that they don't know or they don't think they know people with HIV these days because HIV doesn't make people as sick." He's calling for a new national education campaign to promote the fact HIV still exists in the community.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I am deeply suspicious of such reports coming out all at the same time. The UK, India, the Philippines, etc.

Bottom line, don’t trust the statistics. Somebody wants a huge infusion of cash, ASAP.

So who is it going to be? Some UN agency or NGO, or the Obama administration? All of the above?

Sorry, the cupboard is bare.

[Morgana]

I am wondering why too. Are the rates really up? Or is there something else afloat? I thought this was really strange which is why I posted all of these.

Look at it this way if something is up we know it is coming.

[LibertyOh]

Headline caught my eye - I lived in Launceston, Tasmania for about 6 months many years ago, beautiful place. Over 1/2 million people in Tasmania, rate is up with 13 cases. Note they are not putting these statistics in percentages or even comparing to other areas (my own calculation shows the increased rate still only about 1/6th the rate in the U.S.) Tasmania is substantially remote, though, as you can’t just drive to another state, most people there rarely travel to mainland Australia.

Stories probably are precursor to big push for research money.... But we can’t possibly condemn the lifestyle that creates the spread of this disease, we just have to feel bad for the 90+% that get the disease from their life choices and give money.

[Bob]

I have to wonder what’s driving all of the HIV stories today. I’ve seen threads just today on increases in the UK and China and now this one. (I think something’s up regarding HIV funding.)