HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Europe. End-year report 2006

Key points: HIV infection remains of major public health importance in Europe, with an increasing number of HIV cases being reported in many European countries. - In 2006, 86,912 newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection were reported from 50 of the 53 countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization (major exceptions being Italy and Spain) and 13,199 AIDS cases were diagnosed in 50 countries (major exceptions Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan). - The number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection reported in the region continued to increase in 2006. The incidence of AIDS has continued to decline in western and central Europe, but has increased in eastern Europe. - In 2006, the largest number of HIV cases were reported from eastern Europe (59,866; 211 per million), over twice that reported in western Europe (25,241; 83 per million) and twenty times that in central Europe (1,805; 9 per million). - In eastern Europe, the predominant transmission group for HIV infection is still among injecting drug users (IDU), but there is evidence of increasing heterosexual transmission. In central and western Europe, the predominant transmission group is heterosexual, although there have been increases in the number of new cases reported among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recommendations for HIV/AIDS surveillance: HIV/AIDS surveillance data are vital to monitor the HIV epidemic and evaluate the public health responses, and all countries in Europe should: Implement national reporting systems for HIV and AIDS cases. Improve the quality of data reported, especially regarding probable routes of transmission. Recommendations for public health: interventions to control the epidemic should be evidence based and adapted to the country and geographic area: - East: interventions to control HIV among IDU should be the cornerstone of HIV prevention strategies; measures should be strengthened to prevent heterosexual transmission, especially targeted at those with high risk partners; prevention among young people is essential. - Centre: prevention should be adapted according to the country to maintain their epidemiological advantages. - West: interventions for prevention, treatment and care must be adapted to reach migrant populations; renewed safer sex campaigns targeted at MSM are needed. In all regions, HIV testing should be promoted to ensure early access to treatment and counselling to prevent or reduce further transmission.