HIV cases on the rise in Cumbria

The number of people in Cumbria with sexually transmitted diseases has risen, health chiefs have revealed.

In the first six months of 2008, 13 new cases of HIV and Aids were recorded in the county, compared with 17 cases in the whole of 2007.

Of the 13 cases, 12 were contracted through heterosexual sex. Health experts are warning of the dangers of needle-sharing and unprotected sex.

In Cumbria there are now a total of 115 people living with the infections.

In the North West as a whole 496 new cases of HIV or Aids were recorded, bringing the total number of infected people to 5,157.

The figure has been increasing steadily year on year - in 2001 there were almost 2,000 cases in the region.

John Ashton, NHS Cumbria's Director of Public Health, said: "Although there's been only a small number of new cases of HIV and Aids in Cumbria, it's still an issue that we can't ignore.

"If you are having sex with a new or multiple partners you need to take the correct precautions, and only condoms offer protection."