There were 145 babies born to HIV-infected mothers in the State last year, according to figures published yesterday. The HIV status of the newborn babies is not yet known. Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent, reports.
However, 14 children were diagnosed with HIV in the Republic last year, and 12 of them were infected through mother-to-child transmission, the National Disease Surveillance Centre's HIV infections report for 2003 shows.
The figures indicate that HIV infections are on the increase in the population and among children. In 2002, just eight children were diagnosed with HIV.
A total of 399 cases of HIV were diagnosed in 2003, and 196 of the infections were among females. At least 81 of the females were pregnant at the time of their diagnosis. Information in relation to the pregnancy status of 30 other women was not available.
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be dramatically reduced or prevented by appropriate intervention and treatment if the infection is diagnosed before or during pregnancy.
The report shows newly-diagnosed infections increased by 10 per cent last year when compared to 2002 figures. The majority of new cases were diagnosed in the 30-39 age group. However, 21 were aged 10-19, and 10 were under nine years of age.
Half of all new cases were among persons born in sub-Saharan Africa. However 133 cases were among Irish people.
More than half the cases were heterosexually acquired, and over 80 per cent of these were among Africans.
The disease surveillance centre said the number of cases of HIV infection diagnosed among people of sub-Saharan African origin was not unexpected considering the prevalence of HIV in Africa.
It is estimated that there are 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and sub-Saharan Africa is the area most severely affected. Of the 133 Irish persons diagnosed with HIV last year, 80 per cent were men.
Overall, the new figures show 221 of the HIV cases diagnosed in 2003 were heterosexually acquired, 75 were among gay men (up from 46 in 2002), 47 were among injecting drug users, and 14 were among children. Details of how the remainder acquired their infections is not known.
Dr Mary Cronin, a specialist in public health medicine with the surveillance centre, said the figures highlighted the continuing need for appropriate prevention and treatment services for all risk groups in Ireland, including migrants and ethnic communities.
"Furthermore, given the increases in sexually transmitted diseases which facilitate the transmission of HIV infection, people should heed the safe-sex message. Anyone engaging in sexual activity should practise safe sex. A properly-used condom provides effective protection from HIV."
The total number of HIV cases reported in the State to date stands at 3,408. They include 30 people whose infection was picked up when they went to donate blood, eight who received HIV from transfusions and six who acquired it at work.
Fine Gael's health spokeswoman Ms Olivia Mitchell said the fact that half the new cases were from sub-Saharan Africa required a new Government response in a targeted campaign to encourage arrivals from that area to avail of health-testing.