During the last decade or two the number of new HIV cases reported has dropped and the life expectancy for those infected has risen.
Increased awareness and testing has helped impact the numbers.
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day and various offices along Hampton Roads are offering free testing.
In Newport News the Minority AIDS Support Services is offering free testing. The center is at 3110 Chestnut Ave. For information, call 757-247-1879.
In Hampton, the following places are offering free testing:
- Walgreens
500 Settlers Landing Road
757-723-7614 - Urban League of Hampton Roads Incorporated
YH Thomas Community Center
1300 Thomas St., suite E
757-224-8085 - Virginia Department of Health
Hampton Health Department
Victoria Center
3130 Victoria Blvd.
757-727-1172
The numbers
As of December 2017 there were 24,004 people in Virginia living with HIV, and during that year 894 new cases were reported.
Last year the Virginia Department of Health served about 7,700 people though its AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
Last year the Virginia Department of Health served about 7,700 people though its AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
HIV 2018
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone between the ages of 13-64 years old to get an HIV test at least once, but recent trends have seen the number of cases drop both statewide and nationally.
“The number of new cases diagnosed per year (in Virginia) has decreased in the last 10-20 years, which mirrors the national trend and follows effort to ensure more people know their HIV status,” said Diana Jordan, RS, MS, and the director of the Division of Disease Prevention, Office of Epidemiology for the state health department. “People diagnosed with HIV benefit from improvements in treatment. The number of people living with HIV has increased during this same timeframe.”
Jordan said while early diagnosis and rapid access to effective treatment play a critical role in ending HIV transmission, for people who take their medications and stay virally suppressed, there is virtually no risk of transmission of HIV to their sexual partners.
Who’s at-risk
While anyone can be exposed to HIV, Jordan said there are certain populations that are more likely to be.
“People likely to be at high risk include injection drug users and their sex partners; persons who exchange sex for money or for drugs; sex partners of HIV-infected persons; and men who have sex with men,” she said.
In addition to long-standing prevention strategies such as condom use, Jordan said biomedical HIV prevention interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis can help limit transmission.
HIV symptoms
The only way to know for sure if someone has HIV is through testing.
However, Jordan said initial symptoms can include the onset of a flu-like illness that appears 2-4 weeks after exposure and include a fever, chills, a rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or mouth ulcers.
However, she said some people who have been exposed may not feel ill at all.
“The symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During this time, HIV infection may not show up on an HIV test, but people who have it are highly infectious and can spread the infection to others.”
Information about the VDH’s testing program can be found online.
HNNDaily reporters Troy Jefferson and Melanie Occhiuzzo contributed to this report.
