Over 3300 individuals in Germany have been diagnosed with HIV.
In 2023, a similar number of individuals in Germany received an HIV diagnosis as the previous year. Data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reveals that 3,321 new HIV cases were detected, with 23 of these instances being children infected by their mothers.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the underlying cause of the immunodeficiency disease AIDS. The RKI highlights that the virus doesn't produce conspicuous symptoms for a substantial period, typically leading to a diagnosis being made much later in the infection's progression, sometimes even years after. For individuals diagnosed with HIV who commence treatment promptly, there's a promising chance of enjoying a normal lifespan with a high quality of life, as stated by the German AIDS Foundation. Early identification of the infection, through an HIV test, is crucial for this purpose. With the aid of medication, an AIDS illness can be effectively prevented.
The RKI also documents the nations of origin. Over half of the new diagnoses were people who were not originally from Germany. A substantial number of these were from Ukraine. However, the RKI stresses that not all of these cases represent fresh diagnoses, but rather, the first detection of the infection in Germany.
The largest portion of new diagnoses in 2023 were among men who have sex with men (MSM) (1,010). This was followed by diagnoses among individuals with heterosexual contacts (543) and people who use intravenous drugs (166). The RKI reported that information regarding the transmission route was unavailable for almost 800 people.
Since 2014, the number of new diagnoses among MSM in Germany has been steadily decreasing, as mentioned by the RKI. This decrease can likely be attributed to earlier diagnoses, more effective treatments for HIV-positive individuals, and the increasing utilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), responsible for AIDS, often doesn't show noticeable symptoms for an extended period, leading to late diagnoses. Despite the 3,321 new HIV cases in Germany in 2023, including 23 child infections from their mothers, early detection through HIV tests is vital for effective treatment and prevention of AIDS.
