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| Sex infections continue to rise | Sex infections continue to rise |
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| The sexual health of young UK adults worsened in 2006 despite a concerted public health effort to turn it around, figures show. | The sexual health of young UK adults worsened in 2006 despite a concerted public health effort to turn it around, figures show. |
| In 2006, a total of 376,508 new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were diagnosed - up 2.2% in 2005, the Health Protection Agency found. | |
| Young people aged 16-24 made up the bulk of cases of some of the most common STIs, including chlamydia. | |
| The HPA also warned of a continuing HIV and STI epidemic in gay men. | The HPA also warned of a continuing HIV and STI epidemic in gay men. |
| Worrying trend | |
| Sexual infection diagnoses have been almost continually rising since the 1990s. | Sexual infection diagnoses have been almost continually rising since the 1990s. |
| Experts called for more action and funding to tackle the issue. | Experts called for more action and funding to tackle the issue. |
| According to the latest figures, an estimated 73,000 adults are now living with HIV in the UK. | |
| And HIV transmission seems to be a particular problem among gay men - the HPA anticipates that there will have been just over 2,700 new diagnoses of HIV infection among this population in 2006. | |
| This is a strong signal, yet again, that we must do more to improve the sexual health of our young people Simon Blake of Brook | |
| The sexual health of young adults in general has worsened, with increases in sexually transmitted herpes and warts viruses in 2006. | |
| One in 10 young adults screened for the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia in that year tested positive for it. | |
| Young adults are disproportionately affected by STIs, accounting for 65% of all chlamydia, 55% of all genital warts and 48% of gonorrhoea diagnoses in genitourinary medicine clinics across the UK in 2006, the HPA found. | |
| Professor Pete Borriello, director of the HPA's Centre for Infections, said: "While there have been some encouraging developments in HIV and STI prevention in the last year such as the increase in HIV testing, a marked reduction in waiting times at STI clinics and wider chlamydia testing for young adults, the total number of STI diagnoses increased. | |
| "The control of HIV and STI transmission is a major public health challenge and testing for STIs, including HIV, in the UK needs to be increased still further. | |
| "We recommend that gay men should have regular HIV tests, STI clinic attendees should be tested for HIV at every visit and young sexually active adults should be screened for chlamydia annually and after a partner change." | |
| He urged people to practice safer sex by using a condom with all new and casual partners. | |
| Nick Partridge, chief executive of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Despite our best efforts and those of hard-pressed clinics, the HIV epidemic in the UK is getting worse. It's clear that we can't tackle it on our own. | Nick Partridge, chief executive of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Despite our best efforts and those of hard-pressed clinics, the HIV epidemic in the UK is getting worse. It's clear that we can't tackle it on our own. |
| "We need more investment in HIV prevention, more HIV testing in local communities and stronger national leadership. This is a real test for national government and local health services - and one we can't afford to fail." | "We need more investment in HIV prevention, more HIV testing in local communities and stronger national leadership. This is a real test for national government and local health services - and one we can't afford to fail." |
| Simon Blake, chief executive of the sexual health provider for young people Brook said: "This is a strong signal, yet again, that we must do more to improve the sexual health of our young people." |