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Last year 7, 734 people were told they were HIV positive.
The latest statistics show that more than a quarter of the 77,400 HIV positive in the UK are unaware of their infection.
In the United Kingdom the law of confidentiality entitles HIV positive people to have their health status protected from disclosure to their relatives or partners. Such law could protect most ‘vulnerable’ people against stigma, but is the government making things worse by supporting confidentiality?
It is clear that HIV does not have favourites. It can find its way into someone’s live via various means of transmission, be it a young, old, heterosexual or homosexual being. The lives of some people remain at stake simply because they don’t know they could be next in line to getting the virus. So, should we be told when someone has been diagnosed of HIV/AIDS?
A Bupa's factsheet published in 2008 says worldwide figures estimate that over 40 million people are living with HIV and around three million people die each year from AIDS-related illnesses.
Yet in this 21st century, people are still blinded by ignorance and misconceptions about HIV-related issues in our society.
This website also looks at finding out whether or not the 'stigma' continues to affect those infected by the virus.
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Confidentiality: making things worse or better?