Rates of HIV infection in Australia have increased by almost 50% in the past eight years, according to a report.
The latest figures show that Australia now has about 10,000 cases of Aids, while more than 27,000 people are infected with HIV.
Researchers say the rise has been fuelled by Australia’s mining boom.
They say wealthy miners and businessmen taking holidays overseas contract the virus through unprotected sex.
Upward trend?
Although HIV/Aids figures in Australia are relatively low byinternational standards, researchers are worried that this is part of adisturbing upward trend.
Don Baxter, from the Australian Federation of Aids Organizations, says that although homosexual men account for most newcases, a growing number of heterosexuals have tested positive for HIV.
“It appears to be chiefly men who are holidaying in South EastAsia and Papua New Guinea, and having unprotected sex with women whomust have been positive,” he said.
“The risk of a major outbreak in the population is probably nothigh. But again, we’ll have to monitor this situation very closely overthe coming years.”
Campaigners say that miners who have cashed in on the resourcesboom in Western Australia and Queensland have been responsible for amarked increase in the number of new HIV infections.
Statistics have shown that even those in stable relationshipscan give in to temptation when they are away from their families in aforeign country with their workmates.
A heady cocktail of exotic tropical locations, plentifulsupplies of alcohol and money has often led to unprotected sex inbrothels – and the catastrophic consequences that can follow.
In Queensland, health officials in Cairns have said that acluster of six middle-aged businessmen who had tested positive for HIVfollowing trips to Papua New Guinea could be the beginning of a seriousoutbreak in the city.