1998 January Australian HIV Surveillance Update

The Australian HIV Surveillance Report has been published on a quarterly basis from July 1990. Reports published from January 1994 are available below. Each report includes article(s) on topics of general interest in the epidemiology of HIV and related infections updates on the number of cases of newly diagnosed HIV infection and AIDS in Australia estimates of HIV incidence and prevalence among people seen through a network of sexual health clinics in Australia.

The Australian HIV Surveillance Update provides a brief summary of HIV and AIDS diagnoses in the most recent quarter, the most recent year and cumulative counts. The Australian HIV Surveillance Update was published separately prior to the July 2000 issue of the Australian HIV Surveillance Report. Updates post April 2000 are included in the Australian HIV Surveilance Report.

Key findings
  • Diagnoses in the third quarter: 1 July – 30 September 1997
    • A total of 189 diagnoses of HIV infection, 58 diagnoses of AIDS and 46 deaths following AIDS were reported, by 31 December 1997, to have occurred in the third quarter of 1997.
    • Following adjustment for reporting delay, the estimated numbers of AIDS diagnoses and deaths following AIDS occurring in the third quarter of 1997 were 115 and 80, respectively.
    • In comparison, 230 diagnoses of HIV infection, 154 diagnoses of AIDS and 121 deaths following AIDS were reported, by 31 December 1997, to have occurred in the third quarter of 1996.
  • During the third quarter of 1997, 18 cases were reported as having newly acquired HIV infection, identified by a negative test within the 12 months prior to diagnosis or the diagnosis of HIV seroconversion illness. No cases of newly acquired HIV infection for which exposure to HIV was attributed to heterosexual contact and injecting drug use, were reported.
  • People diagnosed with HIV infection in the year to 30 September 1997 had an average age of 36 years, and 0.9% were in the age group 13 – 19 years. 89% were male, 8% were female and sex was not reported for 3% of cases.