Testing urged for STIs to break chain

WELLINGTON: After successfully dealing with the first wave of Covid19 transmissions in New Zealand, some health experts want a focus on HIV and sexuallytransmissible diseases.

Test, test, test. The mantra first used by public health experts to help stamp on the spread of Covid19 is now being applied to sexually transmissible infections. Advocates and researchers believe the unique set of societal conditions produced by the lockdown gives an opportunity to break the chain of transmission and is one that cannot be missed.

‘‘If we have broken the chain of Covid transmission through physical distancing then it follows that we may well have broken the chain of HIV and STI transmission,’’ Jason Myers, chief executive of the New Zealand Aids Foundation, said.

New Zealanders were housebound, except for essential tasks and essential workers, during a 51day lockdown that ended earlier this month. The country’s eradication efforts have all but eliminated Covid19 in New Zealand. There is just one active case in the country, and noone requiring hospitallevel care. That has prompted Jacinda Ardern’s Government to ease gathering restrictions again from yesterday.

Gatherings of up to 100 people are now allowed, though physical distancing between strangers is still required.

‘‘What needs to happen now is before people reenter the realm of sex with casual partners, they need a test,’’ Mr Myers said.

‘‘We know there are a number of New Zealanders living with undiagnosed HIV infection. If we can find those individuals through testing, diagnose them with HIV and link them to care and treat them, we will have broken the chain. So we need to test.’’

New Zealand has a similar STI profile to Australia, with epidemiclike levels of syphilis within the community.

This week, the governmentbacked Aids Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago released data that showed an increased rate of growth of New Zealanders living with HIV.

In 2018, 185 new cases were identified. In 2019, that figure grew to 212. Group leader Sue

McAllister said she was ‘‘encouraged’’ by a decrease in the number of cases that were first diagnosed in New Zealand.

A small increase in cases first diagnosed overseas may be attributable to Kiwis returning home, international students or migrant workers, but Dr McAllister said it was important to note New Zealanders receiving treatment for HIV posed no risk to the population.

She said improved prevention methods had helped with the local decline. — AAP