African Immigrants Bring More AIDS To
Scotland By
Mandy Rhodes The Scotsman - UK 11-30-3
- There has been a huge increase in cases of HIV
infection among people coming to Scotland from Africa, according to
figures published by the National Health Service.
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- In the past four years, the number of new cases of HIV
among heterosexual Africans in Scotland has more than trebled. Experts
believe the rise poses as big a threat to society as the virus did among
gay men and intravenous drug users in the 1980s. Then, only an
unprecedented public health campaign and radical measures, such as
needle exchange schemes for addicts, prevented an explosion in HIV and
AIDS.
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- "How we identify this group to offer them a test is
the number one public health priority in HIV," said Professor David
Goldberg, a consultant epidemiologist at the Scottish Centre for
Infection and Environmental Health. "It is essential we have a testing
strategy specifically designed for Africans living in Scotland."
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- In 1999, the centre recorded 23 new cases of HIV among
heterosexual Africans. That rose to 31 in 2000 and 36 in 2001 - but last
year, the number reached 74. By the end of September this year, 50 cases
had been recorded and it is predicted the total will reach a new
high.
-
- Prof Goldberg said there was evidence that African
sub-types of HIV have spread among the general population in Scotland.
He added: "Offering tests to people coming into this country should be a
priority and presented as a benefit to the individual as well as
Scotland. We were able to do this in the early 1980s, when we targeted
gay men and drug injectors."
-
- On Monday - World Aids Day - Prof Goldberg will debate
the issue with Dr Mac Armstrong, the Scottish Executive's chief medical
officer, and professionals working in the field of HIV.
-
- Of the 34.3 million people in the world with the
virus, two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa. In countries such as
Botswana, prevalence rates rise as high as one in three and in South
Africa, half of all teenagers are estimated to be HIV positive. In
contrast, Britain has a prevalence rate of 0.11 per cent.
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- Africans who have tested positive in Scotland are a
combination of asylum seekers, immigrants and students. In all, nearly
6,000 asylum seekers have been moved to Glasgow under the Home Office's
dispersal strategy. HIV figures in Greater Glasgow have, for the first
time, overtaken Lothian.
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- ©2003 Scotsman.com
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- http://www.news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1314252003
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