PEOPLE in Forth Valley who have injected drugs are being urged to get tested for HIV, following the most serious HIV outbreak in Glasgow for more than a decade.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has seen the number of new cases through injecting drug use more than quadruple.

The normal average is 10 new cases a year, but in 2015 that figure soared to 44 new cases.

NHS Forth Valley HIV consultant Dr Kirsty Abu-Rajab said: “The recent Glasgow outbreak reminds us that HIV has not gone away and is still a very real risk for people who inject drugs and share equipment. The key message is to get tested for HIV if you have ever injected drugs.

“The best way to avoid transmission of HIV and other blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis C is to stop injecting drugs. However, if an individual continues to inject it is vital they use new equipment every time and never share needles or any other equipment. It is also important to use a condom for sex and get tested regularly for all blood-borne viruses.”

Testing is easy and can be done at GP surgeries, Signpost Recovery, Community Alcohol and Drug Services and the Forth Valley Sexual Health Service.

Injecting equipment is available from a number of community pharmacies across Forth Valley.

Condoms are available to residents in Forth Valley from freecondomscentral.co.uk

Further information is available from centralsexualhealth.org or by calling the Forth Valley Sexual Health Advice line on 01786 433697 or 01324 613944.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (more commonly known as HIV) is a blood borne virus which attacks the immune system and weakens the body’s ability to fight infection and disease.

When someone first acquires HIV they may have a flu-like illness for 2-6 weeks after exposure, this is called a seroconversion illness. 

When they have recovered from this they may have no or minimal symptoms for several years, however their immune system is being progressively damaged throughout this time and the infection may also be transmitted. 

There is no cure for HIV, but very effective treatment is now available.

With early diagnosis and treatment a person with HIV can live a healthy life and enjoy a similar life expectancy to the rest of the population. 

Early treatment also reduces the risk of onward transmission.