The HIV epidemic has stagnated in the Alpes-Maritimes since 2018. In 2023, 101 new contaminations were recorded, according to figures published by the Corevih (Regional Coordination Committee for the Fight against HIV) Paca Est, on the occasion of World AIDS Day this Sunday.
“It’s a positive message”estimates its president, Dr Pascal Pugliese, infectious disease specialist at Nice University Hospital. “Diagnoses are earlier, thanks to the screening policy that we have put in place in the department, which makes it possible, in particular with HIVtest, the free laboratory test, to offer more screenings”.
Half of the populations diagnosed are people born abroad to whom screening is offered very early on their arrival in the country.
200 people are unaware of their HIV status
Other figures, revealed by Corevih, the number of infected people who do not know their HIV status is estimated at 200 in the Alpes-Maritimes.
The incidence, that is to say the number of people who become contaminated per year, is estimated at 90, with a delay between contamination and diagnosis of 1.2 years.
“We are therefore in control of the epidemic. Our objective of three 95 has been achieved in the department: 95% of HIV-positive people diagnosed, 95% of them under treatment, 95% of them have an undetectable viral load “rejoices the infectious disease specialist from Nice.
In the Alpes-Maritimes, 5,050 people live with HIV.
Taking preventive treatment in decline
A downside all the same, the decline in the use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis, preventive use of antiretroviral drugs).
“30% of people who are unaware of their HIV status in the Alpes-Maritimes are men who have sexual relations with men born in France and who could benefit from PrEP”recalls Dr. Pugliese.
Their profile? “Younger people, further away from large urban areas, who do not really identify as belonging to the gay community, and therefore are excluded from prevention messages, and further away from the provision of dedicated care. This is towards these audiences that we must go, by innovating in communication, by working with health professionals”insists the president of Corevih Paca Est.
The Inserm survey, published on November 13, shows that the use of condoms during first sexual intercourse among young people is in decline. Even later, among people who meet a new partner, only one in two wears a condom.
“This is why we continue to innovate, for example with screening in community pharmacies”he continues. Six pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes, in Menton, Cap-d’Ail and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, have been participating in this experiment for several days. A first in France.
Another downside is the government’s desire to reduce state medical aid.
“There is a total inconsistency between the objective of ending the epidemic by screening and treating everyone, and by not allowing part of the most exposed population to access legitimate and useful care for them, but also for the public health of all French people”denounces Pascal Pugliese.
