Community Corner

County Health Officials Urge HIV Testing

As of June, there are 3,251 people living with AIDS in Riverside County and another 1,581 people living with HIV, according to county health officials.

Today is World AIDS Day, and Riverside County health officials are reminding residents to get tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

As of June, there are 3,251 people living with AIDS in Riverside County and another 1,581 people living with HIV, said Jose Arballo, Jr., a spokesperson for Riverside County Department of Public Health, in a news release.

There are some estimates by regional health officials that more than 3,400 people have HIV in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and do not know they are infected, Arballo said.

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“Knowledge is the first step in taking control of your health and your future,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, interim health officer for Riverside County. “It is estimated that thousands of people are HIV-positive in the Inland area and don’t even know it. World AIDS Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate our successes and remember those we have lost to this terrible disease, but also reminds us that we have a long way to go.”

Health officials said that between 1983 and June 2011, there were 2,760 AIDS-related deaths in Riverside County. The rate of AIDS has decreased steadily since 1991, when the rate was 38.9 cases per 100,000 people. That figure is now 3.9 cases per 100,000 people, officials said.

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State health officials estimate that by June, there were an estimated 111,100 people living with HIV or AIDS in California. The number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS has increased at a steady rate (average 9.5 percent increase per year), officials said.

"These relatively steady new infection rates and the success of new medications for treating HIV/AIDS has dramatically extended the lifespan of persons living with HIV/AIDS," Arballo said.

Started in 1988 by the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day has become an annual day to commemorate those lost to the disease and to encourage others to get tested.

Riverside County health officials are encouraging residents to contact their health professionals and get tested for HIV, Arballo said. For more information or to find free testing locations, visit the Riverside County HIV/AIDS Program website at Rivcohivaids.org or call toll free 800-243-7275.


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