CONTACT: Beth Kaplan, 608-267-3810

WORLD AIDS DAY IS DECEMBER 1st

Health Officials Urge State and Worldwide Efforts to Combat the Disease

MADISON - Health officials are calling for renewed efforts to combat the HIV epidemic on this 22nd anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1983, more than 11,000 people in Wisconsin have been reported to be infected with HIV and more than 3,800 have died. Currently, more than 9,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Wisconsin.

Worldwide, more than 33 million people are living with HIV and more than 7,300 individuals are infected daily. An estimated 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV and one out of five people with HIV do not yet know they are infected.

"World AIDS Day is an opportunity for each of us to renew our personal commitment to curtail the growth of the HIV epidemic," said Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake. "Anyone can become infected with HIV, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic circumstance. Some of our communities are especially hard hit by HIV, making it vitally important to focus our efforts on helping people with the greatest need for prevention and treatment services."

Both nationally and in Wisconsin, gay and bisexual men of all races account for the majority of HIV cases, making up 68 percent of Wisconsin cases in 2009. After declining between 1990 and 2001, the number of reported cases of HIV infection among gay and bisexual men increased 57 percent between 2001 and 2009.

Black men and women and Hispanic men also have high rates of HIV compared with other racial or ethnic groups. The reported HIV infection rate in 2009 was nine times greater for African American males and five times greater for Hispanic males than for Whites. In 2009, 77 percent of all females reported with HIV infection in Wisconsin were members of racial and ethnic minority groups. Among females, the reported HIV infection rate was 25 times greater for African Americans and eight times greater for Hispanics than for Whites.

Health officials suggest several ways to prevent HIV infection:

• Use safer-sex methods
• Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues
• Get tested for HIV
• Decide not to engage in high risk behaviors
• Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS
• Get involved with community efforts to raise awareness about the importance of HIV prevention and treatment and the ways that stigma associated with HIV can increase the number of people engaging in high risk behaviors

For questions about HIV or HIV testing, talk with your health care provider, local health department, or call 1-800-334-2437 to locate HIV testing resources in Wisconsin.

To learn more about World AIDS Day and HIV infection in Wisconsin, go to http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aids-hiv/.

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Last Revised:  December 06, 2010