THE number of people living with HIV in Brighton and Hove is continuing to rise.

Latest figures reveal more than 1,700 people used the city’s HIV services last year, a four per cent increase on the year before.

Brighton and Hove also continues to have the highest rate of infections in the country outside of London.

Its rate is 8.1 per 1,000 of the population aged between 15 and 59 is way above the national average of 2.22.

However cases are not evenly distributed across the population because about 85 per cent of infections are acquired between men who have sex with other men.

Health officials in the city are working with the Terrence Higgins Trust to target gay men and other high risk groups, which include African men.

Stephen Nicholson, Brighton and Hove City Council lead commissioner for HIV and sexual health, said the city had a good record when it came to cases getting picked up at an early stage. He added that the number of people being diagnosed late was falling.

He said: “We have been working hard to ensure there is good access to HIV tests. The earlier a person is diagnosed the better for them in terms of their health, treatment and wellbeing.

“It also reduces the risk of further infection spreading in the community.”

Raising awareness of the importance of using condoms is also an important part of the work.

The Brighton-based Sussex Beacon provides care and support to people with HIV and Aids.

Chief executive Simon Dowe said: “Even though we are seeing a decline in the number of undiagnosed infections the rates of ongoing transmission remain high.

“Ensuring that people have access to HIV tests and HIV medicines is essential in stopping the spread of the virus.

“Year on year we have seen an increase in the number of people living with HIV highlighting the need for effective prevention programmes to ensure that people most at risk of HIV receive the information and advice on how to stay negative .”

The Terrence Higgins Trust launches its fourth annual National HIV Testing Week today with main focus on the African community.

Free and confidential testing will be offered at the Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership Centre near Brighton Station on Wednesday and Friday from 9.30pm to 5.30pm.