2003 July Australian HIV Surveillance Report

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 first quarter: 1 January – 31 March 2003
    • A total of 217 diagnoses of HIV infection, 17 diagnoses of AIDS and 19 deaths following AIDS were reported, by 30 June 2003, to have occurred in the first quarter of 2003.
    • Following adjustment for reporting delay, the estimated numbers of AIDS diagnoses and deaths following AIDS occurring in the first quarter of 2003 were 46 and 25.
    • In comparison, 222 diagnoses of HIV infection, 64 diagnoses of AIDS and 16 deaths following AIDS were reported by 30 June 2003, to have occurred in the first quarter of 2002.
  • During the first quarter of 2003, 66 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. A history of male homosexual contact, with or without a history of injecting drug use, was reported in 56 (84.9%) cases.
  • People diagnosed with HIV infection in the year to 31 March 2003 had an average age of 36 years and 0.8% was in the age group 13 – 19 years.