Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 29 Nov 2011 - 17:00 PST
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One in every five HIV positive Amercans is not aware he/she is infected, and only 49% of those who know they are infected receive ongoing medical care and treatment, says a new Vital Signs report issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). There are nearly 1.2 million Americans who live with HIV, of whom approximately just 28% have a viral load of below 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood (a low viral load).
HIV infected patients with a low viral load have their infection under control - at a level that allows them to stay healthy, and also minimizes their risk of passing it on to other people.
77% of HIV positive Americans who are receiving "ongoing" antiretroviral treatment and care have suppressed levels of HIV. Proper and effective HIV therapy and care improves the patient's health, and prevents the spread of infection.
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) carried out a study recently on heterosexual couples which demonstrated that ongoing antiretroviral therapy, combined with safety behaviors, can reduce the risk of HIV spreading by about 96%.
CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., said:
"While we have known that viral suppression can be achieved with proper HIV treatment and care, today's new Vital Signs data highlight the challenges our country faces in keeping HIV-positive Americans in the care they need to control the virus.By improving testing, linkage to care and treatment services, we can help people living with HIV feel better and live longer, and can reduce the spread of HIV dramatically. This is not just an individual responsibility, but a responsibility for families, partners, communities and health care providers."
The authors explain that MSM (men who have sex with men) tend to have the lowest awareness of their HIV status, and are the least likely to receive counseling on infection prevention. A recent report showed that 39% of MSM are aware of their HIV status and receive prevention counseling compared to 50% of heterosexual males and females.
The researchers stress that every stage of the treatment and care of HIV in America needs to be improved. More Americans need to be tested, linked to care, given ongoing care, provided with prevention counseling , and treated successfully if viral suppression is to be achieved.
Jonathan Mermin, M.D., director of CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, said:
"Closing the gaps in testing, access to care and treatment will all be essential to slowing the U.S. HIV epidemic. HIV testing is the most important first step toward breaking the cycle of transmission. Combined with effective prevention services, linkage to care and ongoing effective treatment, testing provides a gateway to the most effective prevention tools at our disposal."What individual people can do Reduce risky sexual behavior by abstaining from sex, only having sex with one partner who is not infected with HIV, or using a condom for oral, vaginal or anal sex (every time).Go to your doctor and ask for an HIV test.If you are infected with HIV, get medical care ASAP. This will ensure you stay healthier for longer, and help protect others from becoming infected.Have regular HIV tests if you live in an area or community where HIV is common.If you have more than one sexual partner, inject drugs, or are an MSM, get an HIV test at least once every 12 months.What the federal government can do Create and issue guidelines for health care providers on medical care and testing.Educate the general public as well as health care professionals about the importance of medical care and HIV testing.Fund HIV prevention services and medical care programs.Help the National HIV/AIDS strategy achieve its goals.What state and local health department can do Fund HIV medical care and HIV prevention programs.Set up programs so that at risk individuals are tested frequently and promptly.Explain to people where they can get tested.Integrate HIV prevention counseling and services as part of standard care.Support programs and community actions aimed at preventing new HIV infections.Help the National HIV/AIDS strategy achieve its goals.What health care providers can do Offer patients routine HIV tests.Offer STD tests to patients, as well as relevant treatments.Prescribe antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients, and help them keep their viral load down.Ensure that all their HIV-positive patients receive effective HIV medical care.Provide prevention counseling.Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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posted by Wally Geez on 29 Nov 2011 at 5:55 pm
Have a law that requires a Tattoo of a simple "HIV" text mark on the groin of every person that has HIV, and watch the infection rate drop like a rock! We are more worried about the privacy and "rights" of the HIV infected, than the rights of the non-infected. If someone has HIV, every potential partner should have the right to know about it, not find out later after having had a test and being found a PAST partner was positive!
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posted by Linda on 29 Nov 2011 at 6:50 pm
The commenter above me is clearly over the top, but I have been consistently surprised that the mainstream medical world in the US does not ask about HIV testing more regularly...a simple question would not hurt. For example, if you are getting basic blood work done (Cholesterol, liver panel, lipids, etc), why can't they ask the patient if they want an HIV test also?
On the MSM side, we are seeing a new generation of young men who have very risky sex (mainly hooking up on the internet) and are in denial or scared to learn their status. If you are 21 years old today you were born in 1990 and grew up after "the plague" years. You did not see your friends die a horrible death, you did not see Rock Hudson, Freddie Mercury, Easy-E, Ryan White, Isaac Asimov and Magic Johnson. They don't hear rap groups singing "Let's talk about sex, baby...all the good things and the bad things." They see HIV as a manageable disease like diabetes - they don't full understand the implications of the virus and antiretrovirals. We need to keep HIV/AIDS awareness relevant in our communities, because lord knows the virus is still relevant in peoples lives.
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posted by David Li on 29 Nov 2011 at 7:12 pm
If you tatoo people who have HIV, I am afraid there will be none of them actuely going to test or report themselves, which could actually cause more people get infected. I personally think finding a cure or providing free medical devices are much better choices.
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posted by J. Williams on 29 Nov 2011 at 7:23 pm
The tattoo is a great idea, and I am 100% for it! Maybe not "the groin" area, but on the upper arm would suffice for me!
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posted by Kat on 2 Dec 2011 at 11:31 am
I believe people should know that just because they have HIV does not mean that their life is over. The cycle of HIV will go on until they hopefully find a cure. for now popele with HIV can live their life with precautions.
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posted by Dave on 4 Dec 2011 at 6:50 am
I think you will find that the virus is spread largely by people who are unaware of their HIV status. So the stupid tattoo idea would not stop the spread of the illness. In fact I believe that idea would help the virus spread.
The likely outcome of the tattoo idead is people would not get tested thus increasing the number of people that do not know their status. And more people getting infected.
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