HIV Rates Drop to Record Low in New South Wales
The number of people diagnosed with HIV in the Australian state of New South Wales has dropped to its lowest point since records began, according to a report by NSW Health.
In 2018, 278 people were diagnosed as HIV-positive, between 2013 and 2017 the average was 335.6 a year.
New South Wales interim Labor leader Penny Sharpepraised the results: “New South Wales is a world leader in the prevention and spread of HIV. This is incredible news and a great achievement.”
Many health experts attribute the drop in HIV diagnoses to the state’s increased use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The medication was made widely available in the state in 2016 and is 99 percent effective in preventing the transmission of HIV.
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