While the UN is cautiously optimistic on the world AIDS Day marked on December 1, the increase in HIV infections among men who have sex with men in Norway leads to concern. In 2011, there were 97 men who got HIV in this group. It was the highest number ever recorded in the country, and three times as high as in the early 2000’s. The Institute expects up to 80 men in this group will be diagnosed in 2012, writes TV2.
The director of the National Association of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people (LLH), Bard Nylund said to TV2 it is highly probable to go into the new year with continued high infection numbers.
Senior Public Health Director, Øyvind Nilsen emphasized that many newly infected people do not know their HIV status, and it is an important factor for the outbreak in this group. Nilsen also pointed how it is important to know HIV is a serious infection that negatively affects life both physically and mentally.
