Gay and bisexual men in New Zealand saw a record number of HIV diagnoses in 2010, according to numbers gathered by the University of Otago’s AIDS Epidemiology Group, who found 90 new reported infections. These statistics raise serious concerns about the sexual health and safety of this community of people.

Shaun Robinson, Director of New Zealand Aids Foundation, said these were the worst statistics New Zealand’s gay community has ever seen. “Not even in the early days of AIDS in the 1980s were rates of infection this bad in New Zealand”, he said. Because of this, he is calling for higher use of condoms and lubes that can help prevent the disease as well as regular testing to ensure those with the disease can get proper treatment and take care not to infect their partners with it.

On the other hand, rates of HIV infections went down in the heterosexual community. In fact, only 35 of the 149 diagnoses of HIV in 2010 were heterosexuals, after reaching a record high of 87 diagnoses in 2006. Only one case of HIV infection was reported from injecting drugs with infected needles. Mr. Robinson says this reduction in diagnosis is great news and even a cause for celebration for the people of New Zealand.