Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2007
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test and Take Control of Your Health!”
Champaign, IL – June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, an annual observance meant to draw attention to a disease which effects over an estimated 1 million individuals living in the United States. Of these, between 252,000 and 315,000 do not know they are infected, and may unknowingly be spreading the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Over 30,000 new estimated HIV cases are reported each year.
- 68% of the total estimated AIDS deaths have occurred in persons between the ages of 25 and 44.
- Among the diagnosed AIDS cases from the beginning of the epidemic through 2004; 80% were men, 19% were women, and 1% were children less than 13 years of age.
- 40% of diagnosed AIDS cases were among African-Americans, 40% were Caucasian, 19% Hispanic, 1% Asian and less than 1% other.
- Women most commonly reported heterosexual contact or injection drug use as their primary modes of exposure to HIV.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is part of a national effort to encourage HIV Testing to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. HIV testing is offered every week at selected CUPHD locations, and CUPHD works in conjunction with local healthcare agencies to provide follow-up testing and care for clients with active HIV. CUPHD will host National HIV Testing Day events locally that will focus on those persons at increased risk for HIV infection that include testing, risk reduction education and supplies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), of the more than 1 million Americans are now estimated to be living with HIV, one-quarter do not realize they are infected. As a result, they do not receive medical care that could help them live longer, fuller lives. And without knowing it, they may also be transmitting HIV to others. It is estimated that the majority of sexually transmitted HIV infections are transmitted by people who are unaware of their infection.
The CDC recommends routine HIV screening for all persons aged 13 to 64 if you are sexually active, have multiple partners, have unprotected sex, or have other sexually transmitted diseases. Men who have sex with other men or persons who share needles to inject drugs are highly encouraged to seek HIV testing.
CUPHD has a series of innovative programs that take HIV testing and counseling services directly to the people at risk, in their own communities. From testing events at local clubs and nightspots to outreach with mobile vans and testing at community events, efforts are underway to better educate citizens on HIV.
National HIV Testing Day offers an excellent opportunity to be tested for HIV. But an HIV test can be taken on any day. Resolve to take the test and take control of your health. “Know the Facts and Educate, Motivate and Mobilize against HIV/AIDS!”
For more information on HIV testing including confidential locations and schedules of CUPHD testing sites, please call the CUPHD Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at 217-239-7827 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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