A Quarter of People in United Kingdom With HIV Do Not Know It

Of the estimated 86,500 people living with HIV in the United Kingdom, about 25 percent are not aware they are infected, the Health Protection Agency said recently. "We're very concerned that a large number of people in the UK are unaware of their HIV status, and that half of all newly diagnosed people are diagnosed late, meaning they may not benefit from very effective treatments," said Dr. Valerie Delpech, HPA's head of HIV surveillance. Pilot projects to boost HIV testing are underway in areas with high prevalence, which include London, Brighton, and Manchester. "Pilot studies have shown that in these areas, testing all adults registering at [general practitioners] or accessing certain hospital services can make an impact," Delpech said.

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