HIV transmission rates drop in NSW and Albury will benefit from HIV prevention study extension

published on April 11, 2017 by Ellen Ebsary, in The Border Mail

The latest HIV figures out of NSW point to progress towards the state’s goal of eliminating transmission by 2020.

Last year, 317 residents were notified with HIV – the lowest annual count in more than five years – despite a 21 percent jump in the number of tests conducted in public sexual health clinics.

It comes as the Albury Public Health Unit approaches a year of facilitating the EPIC Study, which gives at-risk residents access to medication called PrEP proven to prevent HIV transmission.

Sexual health clinical nurse consultant Alison Kincaid said the trial had received significant interest and was now being extended by two years.

“We’re still getting inquiries and continuing to enroll people who meet the criteria of being at a high risk of HIV,” she said.

“We’ve identified people that maybe wouldn't have had a test before, and they’re hearing about the EPIC study and being proactive to take care of their sexual health.

“It’s been extended and we’re up-scaling the number of people on the study to prevent them getting HIV.”

Ms Kincaid said NSW was on its way to ending transmission.

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HIV transmission rates drop in NSW and Albury will benefit from HIV prevention study extension

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