2004 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 2004
    • A total of 241 diagnoses of HIV infection, 40 diagnoses of AIDS and 13 deaths following AIDS were reported, by 30 June 2004, to have occurred in the first quarter of 2004.
    • Following adjustment for reporting delay, the estimated numbers of AIDS diagnoses and deaths following AIDS occurring in the first quarter of 2004 were 86 and 30.
    • In comparison, 222 diagnoses of HIV infection, 38 diagnoses of AIDS and 21 deaths following AIDS were reported by 30 June 2004, to have occurred in the first quarter of 2003.
  • During the first quarter of 2004, 62 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 heterosexual contact in Australia was reported in 10 (16.1%) cases.
  • People diagnosed with HIV infection in the year to 31 March 2004 had an average age of 37 years and 1.3% was in the age group 13 – 19 years.