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| HIV's spread around Europe mapped | HIV's spread around Europe mapped |
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| Scientists who have mapped HIV's spread across Europe say holidaymakers infected abroad are largely to blame. | Scientists who have mapped HIV's spread across Europe say holidaymakers infected abroad are largely to blame. |
| By analysing samples from 17 European countries, the international team tracked the movement of the virus around the continent. | By analysing samples from 17 European countries, the international team tracked the movement of the virus around the continent. |
| Their map shows Greece, Portugal, Serbia and Spain are big HIV exporters, with many tourists to and migrants from these countries leaving with the virus. | Their map shows Greece, Portugal, Serbia and Spain are big HIV exporters, with many tourists to and migrants from these countries leaving with the virus. |
| The UK is an exporter and importer, Retrovirology journal says. | The UK is an exporter and importer, Retrovirology journal says. |
| The same is true of Israel, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, while countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg are largely importers of HIV, the researchers say. | The same is true of Israel, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, while countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg are largely importers of HIV, the researchers say. |
| See the map In Poland, HIV is contained but is spread among its inhabitants because of injecting drug-users, the research group found. | See the map In Poland, HIV is contained but is spread among its inhabitants because of injecting drug-users, the research group found. |
| To construct their map, the researchers looked at the most common type of HIV circulating in Europe, known as HIV-1 subtype B. | To construct their map, the researchers looked at the most common type of HIV circulating in Europe, known as HIV-1 subtype B. |
| They tracked its migration by creating a family tree for the virus, looking at detailed genetic characteristics that reveal how the virus has been evolving over time. | They tracked its migration by creating a family tree for the virus, looking at detailed genetic characteristics that reveal how the virus has been evolving over time. |
| DIRECTION OF HIV SPREAD Exporters: Greece, Portugal, Serbia and SpainBoth exporters and importers: Israel, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UKImporters: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg | DIRECTION OF HIV SPREAD Exporters: Greece, Portugal, Serbia and SpainBoth exporters and importers: Israel, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UKImporters: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg |
| Lead author Dimitrios Paraskevis, of the University of Athens, said: "Popular tourist destinations like Greece, Portugal and Spain probably spread HIV with tourists infected during their holidays." | Lead author Dimitrios Paraskevis, of the University of Athens, said: "Popular tourist destinations like Greece, Portugal and Spain probably spread HIV with tourists infected during their holidays." |
| In the case of Serbia as an exporter, it is most likely down to its inhabitants travelling to other countries and carrying the virus with them, he said. | In the case of Serbia as an exporter, it is most likely down to its inhabitants travelling to other countries and carrying the virus with them, he said. |
| However, the researchers also noted that although, overall, Serbia is more of an HIV exporter than an importer, in the league of the HIV-exporting countries, Serbia does not rank very high. Indeed, some of the countries deemed bidirectional (both importers and exporters) ranked higher. | |
| He said: "To a large extent HIV spread within Poland is due to injecting drug-users, who make up around half of the HIV-infected population. | |
| "Viruses move around with travellers - thus health programmes within countries should not only target the national populations, prevention efforts must also be aimed at migrants, travellers and tourists - who are both major sources and targets of HIV." | "Viruses move around with travellers - thus health programmes within countries should not only target the national populations, prevention efforts must also be aimed at migrants, travellers and tourists - who are both major sources and targets of HIV." |
| Rowan Harvey, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "HIV isn't constrained by borders, it's a global epidemic and there are bound to be patterns of transmission between countries. | Rowan Harvey, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "HIV isn't constrained by borders, it's a global epidemic and there are bound to be patterns of transmission between countries. |
| "Tourists travelling abroad should definitely pack condoms, but people should also be aware that HIV is at its highest level in the UK as well. | "Tourists travelling abroad should definitely pack condoms, but people should also be aware that HIV is at its highest level in the UK as well. |
| "To protect yourself from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, safer sex is essential both at home and abroad." | "To protect yourself from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, safer sex is essential both at home and abroad." |
| Adapted from the researchers' original map to show the main exporter countries | Adapted from the researchers' original map to show the main exporter countries |
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