Surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus suggests that younger men who have sex with men are at higher risk of infection, European Union, 2003 to 2012.

In 2012, newly reported human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses in the European Union /European Economic Area remained stable at around 30,000 cases. Since 2003, cases in men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 20 to 29 years-old doubled, while the proportion of late presenters in this group remained stable. Persistent declines occurred among older MSM age groups, particularly that between 30 and 39 years-old. Interventions targeting younger MSM are needed to prevent a resurgence of the epidemic in Europe.

HIV and AIDS in the European Union, 2011.

In 2011, a total of 28,038 new HIV diagnoses were reported by European Union and European Economic Area countries. The annual rate of HIV diagnoses does not show clear signs of decrease and HIV continues to be concentrated in selected populations such as men who have sex with men and injecting drug users, and a high proportion reported as late presenters. Despite effective and available antiretroviral treatment, the number of AIDS cases increased in a few countries.

HIV infection and AIDS in the European Union and European Economic Area, 2010.

In 2010, a total of 27,116 newly diagnosed HIV infections were reported by 28 countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), with evidence of continuing transmission and no clear signs of decline. The predominant mode of transmission and increasing trend of HIV in the EU/EEA was due to sex between men. An increase in AIDS diagnoses in several countries and a high proportion of late presenters suggest delayed access to treatment and care.

Trends in HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among injecting drug users in Europe, 2005 to 2010.

Data on newly diagnosed HIV infections and HIV prevalence in 2005 to 2010 suggest falling infection rates in injecting drug users (IDUs) in the European Union (EU). However, recent increases in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates in IDUs suggest increasing injecting risks in some countries. The coverage of effective prevention measures has increased, but is still low in several countries. Overall the data suggest a continued risk of new outbreaks of HIV infection among IDUs.

HIV and AIDS in the European Union, 2009.

In 2009, 28 European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries reported 25,917 newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sex among men who have sex with men was the most common transmission mode (35%) followed by heterosexual contact (24%). Overall, the number of HIV cases in 2009 increased while the number of reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnoses continued to decline. It is of concern that a high proportion of the patients with known CD4 cells count at the time of HIV diagnosis had a CD4 cell count below 350 cells/µl suggesting no timely access to treatment and care.

HIV and AIDS in the European Union, 2008.

HIV infections remain to be of major public health importance in Europe, with evidence of increasing transmission in several European countries. A total of 25,656 diagnosed cases of HIV infection were reported for 2008 by the countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA); data were not available from Austria, Denmark or Liechtenstein. The highest rates were reported by Estonia, Latvia, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In the EU/EEA, the predominant mode of transmission for HIV infection was sex among men who have sex with men (MSM, 40%) followed by heterosexual contact (29%), when cases in persons originating from countries with generalised epidemics were excluded. Injecting drug use accounted for 6% of the reported cases. Overall, despite incomplete reporting, the number of HIV cases in 2008 has increased while the number of reported AIDS cases continued to decline except in the Baltic States. The data presented have some limitations, due to missing data from a number of countries, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn with respect to the size of the HIV and AIDS epidemics in Europe.

HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe: update 2007.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains of major public health importance in Europe, with evidence of increasing transmission of HIV in several countries. This article provides an overview of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) surveillance data, and indicates that since 2000 the rate of newly reported cases of HIV per million population has almost doubled in Europe. In 2007, a total of 48,892 cases of HIV infection were reported from 49 of 53 countries in the Region, with the highest rates in Estonia, Ukraine, Portugal and the Republic of Moldova. In the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, the predominant mode of transmission for HIV infection is sex between men followed by heterosexual contact. Injecting drug use is still the main mode of transmission in the eastern part of the WHO European region, while in the central part heterosexual contact is the predominant mode of transmission. In 2007, the reported number of AIDS cases diagnosed decreased in the Region overall, except in the eastern part. HIV/AIDS surveillance data are vital to monitor the trends of the HIV epidemic and evaluate public health responses.

An increase in newly diagnosed HIV cases reported among men who have sex with men in Europe, 2000-6: implications for a European public health strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To present HIV surveillance data on men who have sex with men (MSM) in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries for the period 2000-6. METHODS: Data from three sources, HIV reporting, AIDS reporting and HIV prevalence studies, were collated by EuroHIV and analysed for 27 EU and three EFTA countries. RESULTS: In 2006, 7693 newly diagnosed HIV infections among MSM were reported (56.7 per million men aged 15-64 years). In 23 countries with data for 2000-6, the number of new HIV diagnoses increased by 86% from 3003 to 5571. In 20 countries reporting individual HIV cases between 2000 and 2006, the median age at HIV diagnosis remained unchanged (36 years), whereas the proportion of MSM presenting with an AIDS-defining illness at the time of HIV diagnosis declined from 25% in 2000 to 10% in 2006 (chi2 = 85.7, p<0.001). In 30 countries reporting AIDS, incidence among MSM decreased by 40% from 2422 in 2000 to 1445 in 2006 and the number of deaths decreased by 57% from 876 to 373. Reported HIV prevalence ranged between 8% and 68% among MSM with sexually transmitted infections, between 10% and 18% among those recruited in community settings, but remained <10% in central Europe and Ireland. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the decreasing rates of AIDS diagnoses and AIDS deaths reflect relatively good access to therapy, the increasing numbers of new HIV diagnoses and relatively high prevalence of HIV among MSM suggest the need for Europe-wide HIV prevention among MSM.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) case reporting in the World Health Organization European Region in 2006.

This article presents information on HIV and AIDS case reporting systems as part of a survey on HIV/AIDS surveillance practices in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. A standardised questionnaire was sent to the 53 national correspondents of the European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS(EuroHIV). The HIV and AIDS case reporting section of the questionnaire comprised four parts: data collection system, HIV/AIDS case definition for surveillance, variables collected, and evaluation of surveillance systems). Individual-based data collection systems for HIV case reports have been implemented in 43 of 44 countries in the WHO European Region and for AIDS case reports in all the countries. For HIV case reports, a coded identifier is used in 28 countries, and full names are used in 11 countries. The European AIDS case definition has been adopted in 35 countries(80%). Information on molecular epidemiology is available in 30 countries, and HIV drug resistance is monitored in 11 countries.HIV/AIDS case reporting systems have been evaluated for underreporting in 17 countries and for completeness in 11 countries.This article outlines the future needs for HIV/AIDS surveillance and presents recommendations on how to improve data comparability across European countries in the WHO region.

[The prevalence of viral hepatitides among youth]. / Rasprostranenie virusnykh gepatitov sredi molodezhi.

The study of 632 teenagers has revealed that young people are the main group of risk with respect to the spread of virus hepatitides B and C, HIV infection. In accordance with risk factors, the teenagers have been divided into 4 groups: using drugs by injection; leading sexual life; using drugs and leading sexual life; having no risk factor indicated. The presence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection has been established in 1.42 and 1.27% of cases respectively. This is due to the frequent change of partners, the use of narcotic drugs since school age, the absence of necessary information and contacts with parents. When considering this problem, mass media have been found to play an important role. The presence of reliable information breaking old stereotypes may help parents pay greater and better attention to the upbringing and health of their children.