Miami Herald - June 18, 2005
Fred Tasker, ftasker@herald.com

Florida's black population, for years hit disproportionately by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is finally making gains against it, the state's top medical officer said Friday.

Since 1999, new HIV diagnoses have dropped by 24 percent among black men and 36 percent among black women, said Dr. John O. Agwunobi, Florida secretary of health, in a Friday teleconference.

But blacks, who make up 14 percent of the state's population, still account for 51 percent of the state's new HIV cases, he said.

"It's not the time to celebrate, but it's definitely time to recognize that what we're doing is hitting home," he said.

Agwunobi credited aggressive HIV testing programs that have increased from 250,000 statewide in 2000 to more than 300,000 in 2003 and 2004. In addition, a new rapid HIV test -- with results in 30 minutes or less -- is leading more people to learn their HIV status and seek treatment.

"We're doing HIV testing in medical facilities, in jails, in mobile vans, at pharmacies, with teams of public health officials and community based organizations," said Thomas Liberti, chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS in the Florida Department of Health.

The lower rates among black women, coupled with new drugs, contributed to an 84-percent reduction in mother-to-infant transmission of HIV since 1999, Agwunobi said. Black women in the past have accounted for 82 percent of such infant infections.

"In fact, in the first half of 2005, there have been zero cases of infant HIV transmission in the state of Florida," he said. Still, state health officials acknowledge that HIV/AIDS continues to ravage the U.S. and Florida.

Nearly 1.1 million U.S. residents are living with HIV; at least 100,000, or 10 percent of them, are in Florida.

"And 20 to 30 percent of them -- 20,000 to 30,000 people -- don't even know it," Agwunobi said.

South Florida HIV fighters were hopeful but cautious.

'CLINICS STILL FULL'

"I'm excited about the data for the black population, but I'm not as optimistic in our area [Miami-Dade County]," said Dr. Michael Kolber, director of HIV services for the University of Miami. "Those of us living in the trenches see that our clinics are still full."

Kevin Garrity, executive director of the South Beach AIDS Project, called the HIV data "proof that we can do incredible things when we can focus the state's finances and energy on a problem."

But he added: "I only wish we could get the same focus on the problem of white MSM [men having sex with men] and crystal meth."

State health officials acknowledged that HIV is still rising among other populations in Florida.

"Statewide we see increased cases of HIV among white men who have sex with men (MSM)," said Liberti of the Florida Department of Health.

With National HIV Testing Day on June 27, Agwunobi urged residents to be tested.

"I call on every corner of this state, every community, every family . . . to get tested on that day, to help identify those walking around with HIV," he said. "Then we can get them into treatment so they can live productive lives and reduce transmission."

The new HIV testing programs in Florida include county health departments and nongovernmental and faith-based groups.

RAPID-RESULT TESTS

Ketty Ledin, early intervention consultant for the Miami-Dade Health Department, said increases in services available to HIV patients makes them more willing to be tested.

"They know things are available to them -- housing, mental health counseling, substance abuse help."

The rapid-result tests mean more people are seeking treatment. With the older version, people would have to return to the testing site as many as 10 days later for results, leading many not to return for treatment.

"When you're concerned with your HIV status, you don't want to wait two weeks. You want the results in 20 minutes," said Jolene Mullins, early intervention consultant for the Broward County Health Department.

___

Herald staff writer Darran Simon contributed to this report.

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