In 2024, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks the immune system, was diagnosed 444 times. The number of diagnoses has fluctuated around this figure over the past five years, while in 2010 it was still more than 1,100. Last year, 24 people died from AIDS, an advanced stage of the infection.
The Netherlands is estimated to have just under 26,000 people living with HIV in 2024. The number of infections is predicted using mathematical models, because there can be a considerable amount of time between the moment someone contracts the virus and the diagnosis.
It can take seven years before HIV is diagnosed
“Shortly after the infection, many people develop complaints that resemble flu. If you do not test, it can take seven years before HIV is diagnosed,” says Professor Marc van der Valk of the HIV Monitoring Foundation and an internist-infectiologist at the Amsterdam UMC.
He calls the findings worrying. Mark Vermeulen, director of Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland, is also disappointed with the figures. “We had of course hoped that the decrease in the number of diagnoses would continue.”
The report shows that sixty percent of infections are diagnosed in men who have sex with men. Other categories include heterosexual men, women and trans people.
Increase in HIV diagnoses among young men
It is striking that the number of HIV diagnoses is increasing after years of decline among men who have sex with men under 45.
Musical actor Ivo Chundro (49) kept his illness a secret for 13 years: ‘You can have HIV and live a healthy life’
Among their peers who were born before 1980 – and who clearly experienced the AIDS wave of the 1980s and 1990s – the number of diagnoses continues to decline.
Less money for prevention
How is that possible? Condom use among young people is declining,” says Vermeulen. “We also see that there is less money for prevention. These two things are related.”
There are information sites, but people have to know how to find them, says the director of Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland. He advocates a new national campaign, such as ‘I make love safely, or I don’t make love’ from the eighties and nineties.
“Those posters and videos were stimulating and progressive, they helped young people discuss the use of condoms. Now we will have to look for young people elsewhere, on social media for example.”
HIV infections can be prevented with PrEP
HIV infections are now easy to prevent, especially with the drug Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Those who are at increased risk can take the drug daily or around sexual activity.
According to the report, those who take PrEP do not always continue. “We see young people quit more often, but we don’t really know why that is,” says Dr. Elske Hoornenborg, head of the Sexual Health Center of the GGD Amsterdam.
“Apparently it is difficult to continue to take that pill faithfully and to visit us twice a year for a check-up. This may have to do with the functioning of the young brain, young people look at health differently than older people. We would like to do more research into this.”