Australasian Society for HIV Medicine

Red alert on HIV spread (The Cairns Post1), HIV rise linked to holidays in Asia (The Australian2), Aussies contracting HIV/AIDS in PNG at alarming rate (Pacific Magazine3) and Warning issued over HIV rise (The Age4) were some of the headlines from printed news sources on the first day of the 20th Annual ASHM Conference.  Television carried similar headlines. The reports were based on the discovery of a cluster of new HIV diagnoses in Queensland with unique demographics: they were all men who had been traveling to Papua New Guinea for employment purposes; all the men were based in Cairns and/or PNG locations; all heterosexual; aged between 47-66; three out of the 6 males had a female partner living in Cairns – these women have all tested negative for HIV infection5. Five of the six men had been infected with HIV while visiting PNG, and the sixth man while visiting another high prevalence country, Malaysia.6 

In response to this cluster, Queensland Health has funded Family Planning Queensland to implement a social marketing campaign. It will be advocating for safer sex practices amongst those traveling between Cairns and neighbouring high prevalence countries, with a particular focus on Papua New Guinea.5 

Darren Russell (Director of Cairns Sexual Health Service) reported to the Age saying “We’re seeing something new with these older heterosexual, Australian-based men with high disposable incomes putting themselves at incredible risk with unprotected sex, often after entertaining and drinking.  This cluster could be the beginning of a very large outbreak.  It also indicates the HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea is becoming more generalized, which puts these men at a greater risk and in that climate the number will only rise.”4 

Clusters of heterosexual men becoming infected with HIV while overseas have also been reported in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The new diagnoses amongst WA heterosexual men increased by 212%, (50 in 2005-2007 compared with 16 in 2002-2004) and by 42% amongst homosexual men (20 in 2005-2007 compared with 14 in 2002-2004). The WA AIDS Council (WAAC) has planned an integrated community response to this issue with the aims of minimising the number of people acquiring HIV overseas and preventing onward HIV transmission in Australia. WAAC is building partnerships with governments, resource companies and occupational medicine companies with the aim of providing information, training and development for professionals. Targeted social marketing is aimed at work and leisure travelers using in-flight magazines, mining publications, travel industry publications and community newspapers. A new website www.sexinothercities.com.au has been developed and has applicability for travelers from Australian states and territories. 7 

David Wilson, lead health specialist, the World Bank suggested that there is no single global HIV epidemic, but rather it is a multitude of diverse epidemics. Knowing your epidemic allows greater insight and ability to understand, respond and find solutions. Understanding the last 1000 infections allows us to know our epidemic for more effective programming.8 The spikes of new HIV diagnosis within the heterosexual population highlight the dynamic nature of the epidemic and the significance of knowing were the latest infections are occurring in Australia. These populations are vulnerable and targeted health promotion strategies addressing the problem are being developed.

References and links