Late HIV diagnoses are a problem in some states, experts say

Many people, even those who engage in high-risk behaviors, don't consider their odds of being diagnosed with HIV. This may be one reason why some infected individuals are diagnosed too late, meaning that the disease has progressed and will likely results in the development of AIDS.

A recent article published by USA Today highlighted this issue and how it is more prevalent in some U.S. states. The newspaper reported that one-third of HIV-infected individuals develop AIDS as little as one year after their late HIV diagnosis, a process that can be delayed or possibly prevented with the early use of antiretroviral treatment.

The news provider explained that states with the highest prevalence of HIV and late diagnoses include Florida, New York, Texas, Georgia and New Jersey.

"There are tens of thousands of people in the U.S. who are diagnosed late, sometimes too late to save their lives, and certainly too late to help them avoid transmission to others," said Emory University's Rollins Schools of Public Health Dean Jim Curran, quoted by the news source.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, and an estimated 21 percent of these cases have not been properly diagnosed.