HIV cases rise in Murcia region despite decline in Spain

Last year, the Ministry of Health identified 107 new cases of HIV in the Murcia region, representing a slight recovery from 94 cases in 2022 and 100 in 2021. This is reflected in the annual HIV report published this Wednesday by the Ministry of Health. Health. Across Spain, this trend has been on a downward trend over the past decade, thanks to strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an antiretroviral treatment given prophylactically to those most at risk of contracting the virus. This trend is also observed in the Murcia region, with fewer cases identified between 2020 and 2023 than in previous years when PrEP was not yet provided in public health care. However, there will be a small rebound in 2023 that will break this decline.

“We will have to wait for the regional report from the epidemiological service to be able to analyze these data,” recalls Enrique Bernal, head of the internal medicine department at the Reina Sofia Hospital and an infectious disease specialist. Epidemiological analysis requires longer periods of time than a specific event. Experts are most concerned about late diagnosis, in addition to fluctuations from one year to the next. Almost half of the new cases (48.7%) registered in Spain in 2023 were detected too late, when “the infection had already advanced significantly,” the Ministry of Health emphasized this Wednesday. In the absence of data for the Murcia region, the truth is that the Community has traditionally shown even higher rates of late diagnosis (in 2022 they exceeded 60%).

“Early diagnosis is still the workhorse,” summarizes Enrique Bernal. This delay in detection highlights the need to step up rapid testing campaigns, said Antonio Serrano, president of Vihsibles. The association denounces that the Murcia region is moving in the opposite direction, with the “dismantling” of services such as the Murcia City Council checkpoint and the HIV department of the Ministry of Health. The InfoAIDS Community telephone number (900 706 706) no longer works and refers to the Red Cross and email address. The department does not conduct tests or treatment in person, Serrano said. As for the Murcia checkpoint, STI tests are no longer available and HIV tests are only offered one day a week. “It cannot surprise us that we are at the forefront of late diagnosis,” concludes the President of Vihsibles.

The highest incidence of HIV in the Murcia region was observed in 2023 among men who have sex with men (55%), with 37% being transmitted through unprotected heterosexual relationships. It is in the latter case that diagnostic indicators are traditionally later. There are still no regional data by age, although at the national level, 33.5% of new diagnoses occur in the 25 to 34 year old group. 11.5% were aged 15 to 24 years and 18.3% were aged 50 years or older.

The report “also reveals inequalities in access to diagnostics”, the ministry warns. 49.8% of new diagnoses correspond to people born outside Spain, predominantly from Latin America. For women, this figure increases to 61.6%. “It is necessary to continue the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of HIV and other STIs in Spain to accelerate the reduction in the rate of new HIV diagnoses and late diagnosis of infection,” warns the department headed by Monica. Garcia.