Are gay German men becoming more careful about catching HIV?
Infection rates have been accelerating since 2000 but the Robert Koch Institute (part of the German Federal Ministry of Health) expects about 3,000 new cases this year, about the same number as last year said epidemiologist Ulrich Marcus. This will be the first year since 2000 that rates have not increased. Only one month to go guys, so let’s be extra careful and make sure they’re right. The Institute estimates that 72% of new infections are among gay / bisexual men, 20% among straights and the remaining 8% among needle users. So gay men are still easily the biggest cause of new infections, moreover they are responsible for the increasing rate in recent years. The Robert Koch Institute estimates that about 63,500 people are living with HIV or AIDS in Germany this year, according to the figures released today. About 38,700 (61%) of the infected population are gay or bisexual men. About 650 people will die of HIV in 2008.
