HIV and AIDS in the European Union, 2009

In 2009, 28 European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries reported 25,917 newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sex among men who have sex with men was the most common transmission mode (35%) followed by heterosexual contact (24%). Overall, the number of HIV cases in 2009 increased while the number of reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnoses continued to decline. It is of concern that a high proportion of the patients with known CD4 cells count at the time of HIV diagnosis had a CD4 cell count below 350 cells/µl suggesting no timely access to treatment and care.