ALMOST 250 people across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire were diagnosed with HIV during 2005. According to figures released by the Health Protection Agency on Tuesday, 236 people across the two counties were diagnosed with HIV last year – almost half the t
ALMOST 250 people across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire were diagnosed with HIV during 2005.
According to figures released by the Health Protection Agency on Tuesday, 236 people across the two counties were diagnosed with HIV last year - almost half the total number diagnosed across the East of England, 527.
The figures also show that 1,342 people living with the disease accessed HIV related care during 2005.
The true figure of how many people have the disease could be higher, as it is estimated that a third of people living with HIV are unaware they have the condition.
Nick Partridge, chief executive of the sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "Diagnosing the third of people with HIV who don't know they have it is vital to prevent onward transmission and untimely deaths.
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