|
Between 1986 and the end of 2006, 518 cases of HIV/AIDS had been reported in Cyprus. By the end of 2006, 173 cases had developed AIDS, and 85 AIDS patients had died. Reports from 2004 on the total number of registered cases found that 58% were Cypriots and 42% were foreigners/visitors. The majority of the foreigners have probably left Cyprus, since the reason for which they had been tested was to obtain a work permit.
In 2006 alone, 34 new HIV cases were registered and three cases of AIDS were diagnosed. No deaths among AIDS cases were registered. The annual incidence has been relatively low and stable since the beginning of reporting in 1986, with small peaks in 1994 (38 new cases) and in 2005 (44 new cases). 77% of known HIV cases were aged 20–39 at the time of diagnosis, while 21% were younger than 25 years.
The main mode of transmission is sexual contact, where 63% of all reported cases until 2006, with known route of transmission (98%), were infected heterosexually and 33% among MSM. The remaining cases include 1% who reported having injected drugs, 2% through blood transfusions (no new cases since 1991), and less than 1% through mother-to-child transmission. Surveillance in certain population groups (e.g. inpatients, pregnant women, army conscripts and blood donors) indicates very low prevalence rates.
Factors that may have a negative impact on the future course of the epidemic include: -
intense population movements to and from Cyprus and across the dividing line -
the steady increase in the trafficking and use of drugs -
the increasing number of seropositive women from abroad who come to live in Cyprus.
The information presented here concerns only part of Cyprus, due to an absence of reliable information concerning the island as a whole. Unofficial sources, however, indicate that there is low prevalence and similar protection and risk factors across the country. Efforts are being made by the Ministry of Health of Cyprus, through collaboration with Cypriot NGOs, to establish common strategies against HIV/AIDS.
151 people were on HAART at the end of 2007. HIV testing is offered free of charge in Cyprus. Partner notification is not mandatory. References:
European Centre for Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS (EuroHIV). HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe. End-year report 2006. Saint-Maurice: Institut de Veille Sanitaire, 2007. No. 75.
WHO Regional Office for Europe. Sexually transmitted infections/HIV/AIDS programme. WHO/Europe survey on HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy 2006. WHO: Copenhagen; 2007.
|
