Reckless sexual behaviour by divorcees is behind an increase in HIV cases among the over-50s, a major study suggests.
The diagnosis rate among older Britons rose by an average annual rate of 3.6 per cent over the 12 years to 2015, according to research in The Lancet.
This compares to a steady decline of 4 per cent a year among younger people.
Experts said the rise of HIV in older people was driven by heterosexual sex and could be due to a surge in ‘silver splitters’ – people over 50 who are newly single after leaving long-term relationships.
Iain Murtagh, chief executive of HIV and Aids support charity The Crescent, said: ‘People are coming out of long-term relationships and thinking that condoms are only for contraception.
