World AIDS Day 2023

World AIDS Day (WAD), celebrated annually on December 1, is about bringing attention to the HIV epidemic, by increasing awareness, speaking out against stigma, and calling for an increased response to move toward ending the epidemic in the US.

HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is spread by exposure to blood, semen, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, or breast milk of someone who has HIV infection.

Since the beginning of the epidemic, 85.6 million people have been infected with HIV and about 40.4 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 39.0 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2022.

Through 2022 In Ohio, there were 25,419 persons living with HIV, including 866 newly reported cases. Of new diagnoses, 78% were among males and 47% of new diagnoses were among Black people. The rate of new diagnoses among Black people was nearly seven times higher than that among White people. More than half of new diagnoses were among persons between the ages of 20 and 34 years.

In Region 9 (Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble counties), there were 88 new HIV infections with over half, 54%, resulting from men having sex with men.

In Region 9, Black individuals continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV. Of the 88 new infections, 48% were Black, followed by White 42% and Hispanic/Latino 7%. Montgomery County had the highest number of HIV cases 54, followed by Greene 17 and Clark 12.

By the end of 2022, there were 44 individuals diagnosed with AIDS. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system becomes severely weakened, making it easier for other illnesses to take over. With appropriate medical treatment, some people can live relatively normal lives for many years, even after being officially diagnosed with AIDS.

There is no cure for HIV infection, however, with increasing access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, including for secondary infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition.

The theme for WAD 2023 is “Let Communities Lead”. Communities can lead the way making progress in the HIV response. Communities can connect people with person-centered public health services, build trust, innovate, monitor policies and services, and hold providers accountable.

What is being done to end the HIV epidemic:

• HIV medications that are taken as prescribed can help individuals live longer healthier lives, maintain an undetectable level, thus presenting no risk of transmitting the virus sexually.
• Implementation of HIV care and prevention models that engage and retain patient care. 
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily regimen proven to be highly effective in preventing HIV infection for individuals at high risk, reducing the risk of acquiring HIV by up to 99%.
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), means taking HIV medicines within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV infection. Typically used in emergency situations.
• Syringe services programs (SSPs) dramatically reduce HIV risk and can provide an entry point for a range of services to help stop drug use, overdose deaths, and infectious diseases.
• New systems to pinpoint where HIV infections are spreading most rapidly so health officials can respond quickly with resources to stop the further spread of new transmissions.

Do you know your status? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following:

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• All pregnant women should be tested for HIV along with other STI’s.
• Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (every 3 to 6 months).
• Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

The Ohio HIV/AIDS Prevention Committee of Region 9 (Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble Counties) is reminding you to know your HIV status by getting tested!

For more testing sites near you, call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), visit http://hivtest.cdc.gov, or, on your cell phone, text your ZIP code to KNOW IT (566948) or call 937.496.7133.