December 1, 2011 was World AIDS day. Yes, HIV/AIDS still exist. While many people are scared of cancer, which for many are unexpected, HIV/AIDS remains as a very real danger in our community. In 2009 (the most recent year that data are available), there were an estimated 48,100 new HIV infections. Most (61%) of these new infections occurred in gay and bisexual men. Black/African American men and women were also strongly affected and were estimated to have an HIV incidence rate than was seven times as high as the incidence rate among whites. A majority of diagnoses in 2009 occurred in persons 20-24 years old and is also high in persons 55-59 years old. 21,652 of African Americans were diagnosed with HIV in 2009, the highest of ALL ethnic groups.
HIV/AIDS, unlike some cancers, is preventable. So that leads one to believe that a choice can be made in your health. HIV can be spread through unprotected sex with a person infected with HIV. Having multiple sex partners or the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can increase the risk of infection during sex. Other risks are sharing needles and children being born to an infected mother. AIDS is the final stage of HIV when an infected person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers.
The best way to prevent HIV is to be smart and think smart. Be considerate of your health and others and know your status. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. Although more persons with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. are living longer with the disease, this preventable disease is a global epidemic affecting people all around the world.
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