The Health Protection Agency warned this week that those over the age of fifty are at as much risk of acquiring an STD from unsafe sex as younger people who engage in the same behaviour. It also revealed evidence that the number of people over fifty who are becoming HIV positive has been doubled over the last seven years.
The HPA reported that in 2000 there were 299 new HIV infections recorded in people over the age of fifty with a plan to present its findings in Vienna at the International Aids conference. However, just seven years later in 2007 there were 710 new cases reported.
It should be noted that some of those that were diagnosed with the infection may have been infected when they were younger in age but simply not diagnosed until older in age. After showing early symptoms of the disease many people that are healthy still feel well and do not suspect the presence of the infection for up to ten years, however, the later the diagnosis the smaller the chances of successfully surviving life with the disease.
Despite the above fact, half of those over the age of fifty that were found to be infected proved to have recently acquired the infection, suggesting that they may not be following safe sex practices.
Senior HIV scientist at the HPA Centre for Infections, Ruth Smith, stated that the new survey results emphasize the need for HIV testing at all ages and the need for continual reinforcement of the safe sex message.
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