Belgium recorded 665 new cases of HIV last year, a number of diagnoses increasing for the third year in a row, the public health institute Sciensano announced on Thursday.
“This marks the end of the downward trend observed for years, it is a worrying turnaround,” commented Sciensano, stressing that in absolute figures these new diagnoses concern heterosexuals almost as much as homosexual men.
The increase compared to 2022 is a little more notable among homosexuals (+16%) than among heterosexuals (+13%, the overall progression figure).
And in this last category of population, many new cases are detected among foreigners who have visibly contracted HIV infection after their arrival in Belgium. “Among women, half of the new diagnoses were made in women from sub-Saharan Africa,” specifies the Belgian organization.
Concerning homosexuals (297 new diagnoses), “the increase mainly concerns Belgian men, particularly in the 30-39 age group”. “HIV prevention is hampered by the decline in the use of condoms, even though it has been a crucial prevention method since the start of the epidemic,” laments Sciensano.
In addition to the use of condoms, the health institute cites among the prevention strategies regular screening, treatment of people living with HIV to prevent sexual transmission and preventive treatments such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). “Although PrEP use among men who have sex with men continues to increase, rising diagnoses in this group suggest continued gaps in coverage.”
