Tuesday, July 28, 1998 Published at 13:02 GMT 14:02 UK
Worried nightclubbers flood HIV helpline
Nightclubbers at biggest risk
Over 400 people have rung a special Aids helpline after an outbreak of HIV infection in Doncaster, apparently connected with the town's pub and nightclub scene.
The callers are seeking advice on whether they should take an Aids test.
Doncaster Health Authority has had to call on the NHS for extra support to man the phonelines and they are being handled through a London office. Around 120 staff are taking calls.
All have been given training in counselling people about taking tests.
The health authority is advising anyone who had unprotected sex in the past five years to consider a test.
Ten people have contracted the condition through heterosexual sex in the last two years - after virtually no such cases in the previous decade.
The majority of those infected are women, and health officials say the most common factor has been unprotected sex between people who met at pubs and nightclubs.
Doncaster has five nightclubs and a high concentration of pubs.
"We would wish to reinforce the message that anyone having sex without a condom with a new casual partner is putting themselves at risk."
Mr McIvor said young people had probably become complacent about the risk of contracting HIV, as heterosexual transmission had been relatively rare.
He said: "It is a long time since the major Aids campaigns. Doncaster has a vibrant nightclubbing scence and it may be that once young people have maybe had a drink or two they get a bit blase."
Early treatment vital
HIV infection often presents as an acute flu-type illness and then remains hidden for several years until serious infections and Aids develop.
HIV positive women can transfer the infection to their babies through childbirth. If a pregnant woman is known to be positive, treatments can be offered which reduce the risk of the baby developing the virus.
The helpline number for people to call is 0500 585587.