Containing HIV in NSW: A world class success

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), first appeared in NSW in the early 1980s. Since then, HIV has had a significant affect on public health, causing over 3400 deaths from AIDS and 12500 infections. Within Australia, most cases of HIV infection have been reported in NSW. This article describes the effect that the HIV epidemic has had in NSW and some of the policies that have been developed, in collaboration with affected communities, that have helped stem the further spread of HIV infection.