Established in 1988, December 1 is known as World AIDS Day.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) FACTS:
- HIV infections decreased by eight percent from 2015 to 2019 in the U.S.
- Virginia, in 2017, had the 17th highest rate of HIV diagnosis in the U.S. and was 13th in the country of newly reported cases. (1)
- In 2019, the most recent year for available data, 1.2 million people had HIV in the U.S. (2)
- Of the 1.2 million, 13-percent or 156,000 did not know they were infected and needed testing.
KNOW YOUR STATUS
- Getting tested is the only way to know your HIV status.
- Treatment of HIV can stop the progression of the virus that targets and damages the immune system.
- Without treatment, HIV, in most people, will progress to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
- AIDS, the advanced stage of HIV, can lead to death.
- There is no cure for HIV and AIDS.
HOW HIV SPREADS
- A person can contract HIV through sex and sharing needles.
- It can be passed from person to person through semen, vaginal fluids, or infected blood.
HIV POPULATION IMPACT
- HIV disproportionately impacts minorities, bisexuals and men who have sex with men. (3)
*The Prince William Health District offers confidential HIV testing, counseling and education. To schedule an appointment at our Manassas or Woodbridge clinic, call Manassas Clinic: 703-792-6300 or Woodbridge Clinic: 703-792-7300
Resources:
- HIV Testing Basics (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
- HIV Self-testing (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-testing/self-testing.html?s_cid=fb_togethergeneralfb0015
- Find HIV Prevention Services (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/locator/index.html
(1) Source: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/NewDX_2017.pdf
(2) Source: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2018-updated-vol-31.pdf
(3) Source: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics