Although there have been major advancements in the past 20 years, HIV/AIDS still remains a problem in the United States. That was the conclusion presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a recent report on the state of the disease in the country.
CBS News published an article on the report, which found that of the estimated 1.2 million Americans who have HIV, 20 percent do not know that they are infected. Furthermore, only 40 percent of people who have HIV are getting medication regularly. According to the CDC, the key to fighting this sexually transmitted disease (STD) is awareness and prevention.
“Prevention counseling teaches patients how to stay as healthy as possible and prevent passing HIV on to others. Prevention services include STD testing and treatment services, drug rehab, assistance in notifying partners, housing assistance, financial assistance and other services,” stated the organization.
The CDC also announced that it plans to launch a multi-million dollar campaign to encourage black men who have sex with men to get screened for the disease regularly, as one third of all new infections occur in this population.
Tags: AIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV, sexually transmitted disease, STD
