The New York Times has reported that the number of gay men aged thirteen to twenty-nine being diagnosed with HIV in New York is on the rise, despite the number of total people diagnosed with the disease dropping regularly over previous years.

Between 2001 and 2006, the number of people being diagnosed with HIV each year has dropped by close to 1,500 people; almost a third in five years. Leading the trend are gay men in the 30+ age group, experiencing a reduction of almost 25 percent. Gay men under thirty are currently contradicting the trend, with an increase in the number of diagnoses over the last five years; up by close to 25 percent.

The difference between the number of men over thirty and those younger than thirty was nearly double in 2001, with over 800 diagnoses for 30+ men in 2001, and less than 400 for men under 30. In 2006, the difference between the two age groups was less than 150.

The figures compiled by the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene suggest that higher levels of promotion of safe sex needs to be aimed at an under thirty audience.

Roughly forty percent of those diagnosed with HIV in New York are gay men.

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