25% of HIV infected people do not know they are infected!

[Guest guest]

HIV Threat is ReboundingCategory: HIV/AIDS NewsArticle 07 Nov 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With other public health crises taking center stage, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has dropped out of sight for most people. That may be part of the reason that the number of HIV infections is rising in some groups after having fallen steadily until 2001, according to federal health reporting. An increase in high-risk behaviors as indicated by a rise in some sexually-transmitted diseases indicates that some people are no longer taking the necessary precautions to prevent new HIV infections, says Anne Anglim, assistant professor of clinical medicine and an infectious disease specialist at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. While overall HIV infections have remained generally constant at about 40,000 new cases per year in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control, declines in some groups have been offset by a rise in new cases among people aged 15 to 25, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual couples, says Alexandra Levine, chief of hemotology in the Keck School of Medicine. Also, people infected with HIV are living longer, Levine says, which has increased the chance that they will infect someone else in their lifetime. That makes practicing safe sex - using condoms or abstaining from sex - all the more important, she says. The greatest risk for new HIV infections continues to be in men who have sex with men and in the African American population. Those groups in particular have seen increases in cases of syphilis and other sexually-transmitted diseases. “The younger gay population didn't grow up with the outbreak, when many men died, and with the message to protect themselves,” says Anglim. Everyone, not just those at highest risk, needs to practice safe sex, she says. “Stay vigilant and get tested. Condoms do work, but not as well as knowing your partner,” Anglim says. Since approximately 25 percent of HIV-positive people are unaware they are infected, the CDC is considering recommending voluntary HIV testing as part of routine medical care. Research has found that once people know they are infected, they are much more likely to take precautions to avoid infecting others. While it's become a familiar disease, it's not one to take lightly. “Even with the good drugs they have for treating AIDS now, it's still not curable,” Anglim says. Levine agrees. “They don't understand that they'll be on drugs for the rest of their lives,” Levine says. Kathleen O'NeilHealth Sciences Public RelationsUniversity of Southern California1975 Zonal AveLos Angeles, CA 90033http://www.usc.edu

[Guest guest]

It makes me sad for that 25% and glad to be part of a very sex-positive and aware bi community.

 

BB

AlexOn 07/11/05, jo <jo.heartwork wrote:

 

HIV Threat is ReboundingCategory:

HIV/AIDS NewsArticle 07 Nov 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With other public health crises taking center stage, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has dropped out of sight for most people. That may be part of the reason that the number of HIV infections is rising in some groups after having fallen steadily until 2001, according to federal health reporting. <snip>