AEGiS-AP: Number living with HIV/AIDS in Virginia increasing

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Number living with HIV/AIDS in Virginia increasing

Associated Press - December 5, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. - The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Virginia has more than doubled over the past decade, and many more may not know they're infected, state health officials said.

There are 18,587 Virginians known to be living with HIV/AIDS in the commonwealth, up from 6,730 in 1997, according to the Virginia Department of Health's 2008 Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan.

Once infected, patients are living longer - boosting the number of people living with the disease in the state, officials explained.

"We really want to encourage people to get tested and get treatment, because it really does add years to your life if you get treatment early," said Michelle Peregoy, a health department communications officer.

Based on estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6,000 Virginians may not know they are infected.

The plan and accompanying profile report defines the distribution and impact of HIV and AIDS in Virginia, and officials say it's a tool for state and local health agencies to plan and evaluate prevention and health care services.

Infection rates are highest in more urban areas: About 710 people living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2006 were in Newport News, and Hampton followed with 478.

The disease is most prevalent among men and blacks.

At the end of 2006 in Virginia, 351 out of every 100,000 men were living with HIV or AIDS, compared to 125 out of every 100,000 women. Meanwhile, 62 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS were black residents; 31 percent were white and 6 percent were Hispanic.

Data also showed the face of HIV/AIDS in the commonwealth remains largely young and gay.

The largest group of people living with HIV/AIDS was Virginians 30 to 39 years old. The largest proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS by risk group was men who had sex with men; they comprised 38 percent of cases.

Those who contracted it by heterosexual contact made up 20 percent and injection drug users were 13 percent, the profile report said.

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