– This case is probably just fabrication and rumours, says general secretary Anne-Karin Kolstad of HIV Norway. In recent days, the organization has received several messages from people who are worried about being infected with HIV out in the city. news has seen a number of screenshots sent around on social media, where people warn each other. In the reports, it is alleged that several young women have been injected with syringes in nightclubs and contracted HIV. This is one of the messages that has been sent around among young people in Oslo. Photo: Screenshot – We have never experienced anyone being infected in that way, says Øivind Nilsen. He leads the HIV surveillance at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), which has registered HIV cases since 1985. No injection-related infections in the city. They record, among other things, the gender, place of infection and mode of infection of everyone who is diagnosed with the HIV virus. Last year, there were 245 in the whole of Norway . According to Nilsen, none of them were women who were infected with HIV through syringes in the city. – Nothing in our figures supports that. Fewer than ten people are infected with syringes in Norway each year. Almost all of them are people who get high and have used dirty syringes. So far this year, four people have tested positive for HIV – all of them men who have been infected abroad. HIV infection in Norway A total of around 7,000 people in Norway have been diagnosed with the HIV virus since 1985. Two thirds of them are men. Over 80 percent are infected through sex. Most people diagnosed with HIV in Norway today are infected in other countries. In addition to people who have lived in countries where HIV infection is more common, it is men who have sex with men who have the highest risk of infection. No one has been registered to have contracted HIV through blood since 2015. Since 2013, fewer than ten have been infected through injections each year. The number increased last year, when it was 24. The explanation is that more people have been infected on arrival in Norway. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health / MSIS The number of people infected with HIV has been falling steadily in Norway for many years. Last year, the number increased again – which is mainly due to increased immigration from countries where HIV is more widespread, such as Ukraine. No increase Nor has the emergency department noticed any increase in people who have been drugged in the city. And it very rarely happens that someone is injected with syringes, says doctor Odd Martin Vallersnes at the emergency room: – The usual thing is that it happens through drinking. The police say they occasionally receive reports about this, but not on a large scale. It takes weeks before a positive test Nor does Oslo University Hospital (Ous) know of anyone in Oslo having been infected in this way. – We have not received any inquiries about this. And has not detected HIV infection in anyone who has said that they may have been infected in this way, says department doctor Anne Maagaard at the hospital’s infectious disease department. She says that it takes weeks from when someone has been infected until they test positive. – A positive positive antibody test for HIV can be detected after 3-6 weeks, sometimes it takes a little longer. Pubs: – Many have been frightened. Several pubs are mentioned in the screenshots that have been distributed. But one in particular sticks out. It is alleged that three women were recently injected with syringes there, and contracted HIV. At one nightclub, three women were infected, the report claims. That is not true, according to FHI. Photo: Screenshot news has spoken to both the owner and general manager at the pub. Many, especially young people, have been frightened by this, they say. – It is sad that someone wants to spread such misinformation, writes the managing director in a text message. At the same time, he says that many guests have contacted and notified them of the rumours, and to show support. – Fortunately, they have understood on their own that this was a fabrication.
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Rumors of rape and HIV infection in nightclubs – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
