Blood borne virus infections and sexually transmissible diseases

• Progress towards goals of the NSW Health HIV Strategy 2016-2020 is reported on quarterly.
• Continued support for, EPIC-NSW, a public health trial to provide PrEP to people at a high risk of HIV infection with 8,206 people enrolled to the end of the year (see Prevention).
• 569,605 HIV serology tests were performed in NSW laboratories, continuing the year on year increase in testing since 2012 (6% more than in 2016, 36% more than in 2012) (see Testing).
• 313 people were newly diagnosed with HIV infection, 11% fewer people than the average of the previous six years (n=351.5). There was a 29% (n=47) drop in infections likely acquired within one year of diagnosis (early stage infection) compared to the average of the previous six years. Of the 313 new diagnoses, 232 (74%) reported being men who have sex with men (MSM), 19% fewer MSM than the average of the previous six years (n=286). The number of Australian born MSM newly diagnosed decreased by 41%, while the number of overseas born MSM increased by 13% compared with the 2011-2016 averages. Only 1.9% of new diagnoses were in people reporting injecting drug use as their risk exposure. Of the new diagnoses, 2.6% were reported to be an Aboriginal person (see Diagnoses).
• Of the people newly diagnosed with HIV in 2017 followed up six months post diagnosis by June 2018, 73% had initiated ART within six weeks, 89% within three months and 93% within six months of diagnosis, with the median time to ART initiation being 25.5 days (see: Early uptake of treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART)).
• The HIV Support Program (HSP) provided advice and support for HIV-inexperienced doctors when they diagnose someone with HIV, to ensure the patient has rapid access to five key support services. Since its inception in May 2013 to the end of 2017, 579 doctors had been supported by the HSP including 98 in 2017. The vast majority reported welcoming the support (see NSW HIV Support Program).

Comprehensive reports on sexually transmissible and blood borne virus infections are available at​: Sexually transmitted infections surveillance reports and Data and resources.