There was a 10.8 per cent drop in the number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in Ireland last year, according to figures released today.
According to the figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 178 of 356 newly diagnosed cases in 2004 were heterosexually acquired.
However, the agency warned that information on "risk group" is unavailable for 39 of the new cases, making analysis of trends difficult.
The cumulative total number of reported HIV infections up to the end of December 2004 stood at 3,764.
One-hundred-and-ninety-two of those diagnosed in 2004 were male and 161 were female. Gender was unknown for three cases.
Of the 305 cases where geographic origin is known, 136 were born in Ireland and 130 cases were born in sub-Saharan Africa.
There were 62 new diagnoses among men who have sex with men during 2004, compared with 75 for the previous year. There were 71 new diagnoses among injecting drug users during 2004, compared to 49 in 2003.
Forty one people were diagnosed with Aids at the same time as HIV diagnosis.
HPSC specialist in public health medicine Dr Mary Cronin said: "The number of new diagnoses reported is dependent on patterns of HIV testing and reporting, and there is a need to raise awareness and dispel myths in relation to HIV/Aids and to promote HIV testing particularly among groups at risk.
"The figures highlight the continuing need for appropriate prevention and treatment services for all risk groups in Ireland, including migrants and ethnic communities.
"The number of people living with HIV is growing and given the increases in sexually transmitted diseases which facilitate the transmission of HIV infection, people should heed the safe sex message," she added.
