evidence: A new report from the Public Health Agency (PHA) shows that there are 1,325 people in Northern Ireland living with HIV. The ‘HIV surveillance in Northern Ireland 2022’ report also shows that 76 new cases of HIV were diagnosed here in 2021, a 12% increase from 68 in 2020. [...] "Of the 76 new cases of HIV which were diagnosed, thirty-one (41%) occurred through gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Twenty-one (28%) new HIV diagnoses occurred through heterosexual transmission and fourteen (18%) new HIV diagnoses occurred through injecting drug use. [...] People with HIV have a near-normal life expectancy if diagnosed early and treated promptly. Once diagnosed, individuals are less likely to pass on their infection due to treatment and changing their behaviour. Of those on treatment in Northern Ireland, 97% had an undetectable viral load, and at this level a person living with HIV has effectively zero risk of sexually transmitting the virus to someone who does not have HIV.