Hudson Pride Connection discusses AIDS cases in New Jersey

Members of the Hudson Pride Connection, an AIDS awareness group in New Jersey, recently told the Hudson Reporter that they are gearing up for their most profitable annual fundraiser and discussed the growing number of county residents who are diagnosed with the chronic disease each year.

Director of the Hudson County HIV/AIDS Planning Council Marvin Krieger told the newspaper that about 100 of the county's residents develop AIDS each year and that the most recent calculations estimate that more then 4,600 Hudson dwellers are living with the condition.

Krieger further explained that he believes casual attitudes toward sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the prevalence of injection drug use are the two main contributors to Hudson's increasing AIDS rate.

He told the news organization that although intravenous drug use does not account for as many HIV and AIDS cases as it has in the past, injection drug users represent about 20 percent of all reports.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV is the initial virus that can be spread through the exchange of body fluids during sexual intercourse and eventually lead to AIDS.

Anyone who would like to be screened for STDs, including HIV, may consider using online testing services.