Ahead of World AIDS Day, HSE HPSC data records show a rise in HIV cases in 2024

Ahead of World AIDS Day (on Monday, 1 December), the latest figures** from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that there was an increase in the rate of first-time HIV diagnoses in Ireland in 2024 compared to 2023, but similar to the levels seen pre-pandemic. Notably, two in five (41%) individuals with a first-time diagnosis in 2024 were diagnosed late.

The data comes as a recent survey shows that almost half of Irish people (48%) are now aware that a person on effective treatment cannot pass HIV on to their sexual partners. In November 2024, before the launch of the HSE ‘You, Me and HIV’ campaign, fewer than one in three people (29%) in Ireland were aware of this fact. The You, Me and HIV campaign aims to address stigma and misconceptions about HIV.

Commenting on the rise in HIV cases, Professor Fiona Lyons, National Clinical Lead, HSE Sexual Health Programme said: “Research*** has found that late diagnosis is often related to fear of diagnosis and stigma. 41% of people with a first-time diagnosis of HIV were diagnosed late in 2024, a figure that shows the continued importance of reducing the stigma around HIV and testing. Being diagnosed late means that a person may have had HIV for some time before they are diagnosed, and it has already started to damage their immune system.

“With the ‘You, Me and HIV’ campaign, we set out to make a real and lasting impact on HIV related stigma and encourage more people to get tested and seek treatment. As we continue to inform people about the effectiveness of HIV treatment, our aim is that no one feels fearful about testing for HIV or delays seeking treatment. Living a healthy, normal life with HIV is possible thanks to the effectiveness of HIV treatment.”

The campaign, launched in January 2025, was co-created with the Poz Vibe Tribe, a social enterprise representing people living with HIV, as well as community and voluntary groups. It features people living with HIV and their loved ones and aims to address misconceptions and stigma around HIV. The campaign focuses on the important message that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment can’t pass HIV on.

Reflecting on the results of the campaign to date, HIV activists and Poz Vibe Tribe founders Enda McGrattan and Robbie Lawlor commented: “The success of this beautiful campaign proves that communities living with HIV are the most effective drivers of progress in destroying HIV stigma, raising HIV awareness and promoting prevention and treatment. On behalf of POZ Vibe Tribe, we’re extremely grateful to the HSE for this collaboration and excited about the next phase of this campaign.”

HIV Fact Check

• HIV, regardless of whether or not a person is on treatment, is not passed on from kissing, or from using the same cups, plates, forks or toilet seats. You can’t get HIV from shaking someone’s hand or hugging them.
• People on effective treatment cannot pass HIV to sexual partners. When a person living with HIV is on effective treatment, the viral load is so low that it is not detected in their blood. This is often referred to as 'undetectable' equals 'untransmittable' (U=U).
• People living with HIV on effective treatment can have healthy pregnancies and go on to deliver healthy babies without passing on the virus. Effective treatment in pregnancy prevents infection in babies. HIV is not a reason to avoid pregnancy.
• HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.  HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system weakens its ability to fight infection and disease. AIDS describes the group of illnesses that you can get in the late stage of HIV infection. Most people with HIV will not develop AIDS-related illnesses because of the advancements in treatments.

Visit HSE.ie/HIV to learn more about HIV testing, treatment, supports for people living with HIV and HIV prevention.