A HIGHER than average number of people in York are being diagnosed with HIV when their condition is at a late stage, also known as AIDs.

Compared to national figures, the city has a relatively high proportion of people diagnosed with the virus at a late stage, with 68.8 per cent of newly diagnosed adults found to be at a late stage compared to 40.3 per cent nationally.

When the virus reaches this advanced stage people may become ill from very serious infections and cancers, and are more likely to pass on the infection during unprotected sex.

However, infection rates remain low in the city, with just 16 people diagnosed with HIV from 2013 to 2015, 11 of whom had a late diagnosis.

A report prepared for a City of York Council committee said: “Data suggests that the number of HIV tests offered has significantly increased from 2009 to 2015 (2,190 to 4,064) but the number of people accepting the test has decreased...

"Local research carried out by the specialist sexual health service suggested that those not considered to be in ‘high risk’ groups are not accepting HIV tests and their symptoms may not be recognized in primary care.

"A primary care sexual health training event is planned for 2017 to update and encourage local GPs to support patients with ‘indicator conditions’ to have an HIV test.”

Meanwhile, the report for the Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee, which looks at screening and vaccination uptake, shows flu vaccination coverage for under 65s ‘at risk’ persons is in line with the national average.

The uptake among pregnant women is higher than the national average at 52.8 per cent compared to 44.8 per cent.

The report also indicates low levels of breast and cervical cancer screening attendance among women in York with learning difficulties.