World AIDS Day: Know the Facts – Be Safe – Get Tested

Our world has been battling HIV/AIDs for more than 25 years.  There are an estimated 33 million people living with HIV, and approximately 7,400 new people being infected everyday.  And while those in extreme poverty seem to be effected the most severely, the U.S. national HIV incidence (new infections) is much higher than estimated, especially for African Americans and Hispanics.

Here are some troubling HIV facts from the CDC:

• HIV incidence has been increasing steadily among gay and bisexual men since the early 1990s, confirming a trend suggested by other data showing increases in risky behavior.
• In 2006, the rate of new infections among non-Hispanic African Americans was 7 times the rate among whites.
• The rate of new HIV infections among Hispanics in 2006 was 3 times the rate among whites.

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What does this all mean? Bottom line, more people need to:

1. Know the facts! HIV is transmitted in 3 main ways: 1) Having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV, 2) Sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV, and 3) Being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding.  You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes.
2. Be safe! Now you know how HIV is transmitted, so be smart and safe – avoid risky behaviors. Abstain from sex (do not have oral, anal, or vaginal sex) until you are in a relationship with only one person, are having sex with only each other, and each of you knows the other’s HIV status. If you have, or plan to have, more than one sex partner, talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex and use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex. Do not inject illicit drugs (drugs not prescribed by your doctor) and do not have sex when you are taking drugs or drinking alcohol because being high can make you more likely to take risks.
3. Get tested! You should know your HIV status if you have EVER engaged in any of the risky behaviors in the past – even if it was only one time. To find an HIV testing site near you (in the U.S.), send a text message with your ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948) or visit: www.HIVtest.org.  Even if you think you have low risk for HIV infection, get tested whenever you have a regular medical check-up.

Here are some other great HIV/AIDS resources:

• AIDS.gov
• Learn the link between HIV and drugs
• HIV/AIDs in the US
• HIV A to Z by the CDC
• ONE and World AIDS Day
• Metro Teen AIDS
• AIDS.gov Podcasts
• Follow AIDS.gov on Twitter