HIV rates are as high as they were during the epidemic in the 1990s.
This is according to a sexual health consultant in Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, doctor Dominic Rowley.
Dr Rowley spoke on Midlands 103 about HIV and a new drug to help reduce new cases.
Dr Rowley said the PReP drrug is, ‘a very exciting development’ in tackling the virus.
While speaking on the regional radio show, he said: “I get people who have HIV taking the medication, their viruses become what we call undetectable. So their also non infectious.
“So if you are to take PReP and you don’t have HIV and you have sexual encounters with somebody who does have HIV and their also medicated, your chances are virtually zero of contracting HIV. So it’s a really exciting time.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged for the new drug to be given free of charge to those in ‘high risk’ groups to reduce new cases.
PReP is a one pill per day medication. If taken before sex can reduce chances of contracting the HIV by 86 percent.
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