Friday, January 13, 2023

How Common Is Hiv In Massachusetts

New Hiv Diagnoses And People With Diagnosed Hiv In The Us And Dependent Areas By Area Of Residence 2020*

HIV and AIDS: Facts & Misconceptions You Should Know | Mass General Brigham

Data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state and local jurisdictions.* Among people aged 13 and older.Source: CDC.Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2020. HIV Surveillance Report2022 33

Information About Hiv Influences Attitudes

Allowing myths about HIV to go unchecked permits misinformed individuals to spread falsehoods about the disease. Depending on the nature of the disinformation, it could alter the listeners attitudes regarding HIV, HIV patients, and the relative seriousness of the virus.

HIV myths can mislead a person by persuading them to forego a rapid STD test. Scary myths about HIV may cause an at-risk individual to feel too afraid to get tested. Myths that undermine the gravity of HIV may influence an HIV-positive person to avoid testing, which may boost the spread of the disease.

Myths And Misconceptions About Hiv Transmission

Students, teachers, doctors, and nurses often encounter myths about the human immunodeficiency virus. The clinical and educational settings serve as open forums for the discussion of HIV, so the expression of HIV fallacies occurs more often. People often have a diverse array of questions, such as Can you get HIV in 20 seconds and Can you get HIV from a mosquito?

Below, we discuss some of the most common myths about HIV and set the record straight.

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Virus Tied To Drug Use Sharing Of Needles

HEALTH OFFICIALS have identified a growing cluster of 134 HIV cases primarily among homeless people who inject drugs in the Boston area, a worrying sign for health officials who several years ago were talking about a goal of eradicating new HIV cases in the state.

What we see is not only HIV transmission occurring, but the data indicates that we continue to see active clusters, said state Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat who chairs the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery.

Since the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic nationally in the 1990s, education, harm reduction efforts, and advances in medicine have significantly reduced the prevalence and toll of the disease.

In Massachusetts in 2000, there were nearly 1,200 new cases of HIV diagnosed and more than 350 deaths. By 2007, the number of new cases dropped below 800 for the first time that decade and deaths dipped below 300. Between 2009 and 2013, the number of new cases diagnosed each year hovered around 700, and that number dropped to an average of 640 for the five-year period after that. Most cases since 2009 have been transmitted by sex between men.

According to the Department of Public Health, between 2000 and 2014 the number of reported HIV infections among people who inject drugs had dropped by 91 percent.

However, as the opioid epidemic worsened, between 2016 and 2018, there was a large outbreak of cases among primarily homeless people who inject drugs in Lawrence and Lowell.

Put Your Heart To Work

Contemporary Management of HIV.How Common Comorbidities Affect ART Ma

As with donors and staff members, Fenways volunteers work toward a common goal. Committed, reliable and closely linked to our mission, you can make a very real difference in whatever way you are able to serve.

We invite you to join the Fenway family and have a positive impact on your community while making new friends and connections.

Thank you for your interest in participating in AIDS Actions volunteer programs. In an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 for our staff and clients, some of our volunteer programs have been temporarily suspended until further notice. We will continue to update this page as volunteer opportunities become available.

We couldnt do our work without the generous support of our volunteers and interns, who contribute thousands of hours and countless talents to AIDS Action each year. With opportunities in multiple programs in Boston and Cambridge, were likely to have a volunteer opportunity that fits your skills and schedule.

Also Check: Can You Get Hiv Through Kissing

How Does Hiv Affect Different Groups Of People

There are different ways to answer this question.

In 2020, male-to-male sexual contactdaccounted for68% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.In the same year, heterosexual contact accounted for 22% of all HIV diagnoses.

Data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state and local jurisdictions.NOTE: Does not include other and perinatal transmission categories.* Among people aged 13 and older.

If we look at HIV diagnoses by race and ethnicity, we see that Black/African American people are most affected by HIV. In 2020, Black/African American people accounted for 42% of all new HIV diagnoses. Additionally, Hispanic/Latino people are also strongly affected. They accounted for 27% of all new HIV diagnoses.

Data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state and local jurisdictions.* Among people aged 13 and older.Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.

The most affected subpopulation is Black/African American gay and bisexual men.

How Do You Get Aids/hiv The Hard Facts

HIV is among the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists consider it a sexually transmitted disease because it most commonly spreads through sexual contact with an infected partner. This transmission occurs due to the natural exchange of certain bodily fluids during sexual intercourse. HIV can also transmit among intravenous drug users if they reuse needles that contain blood from an HIV-positive person.

Also Check: How Much Saliva Is Needed To Transmit Hiv

Affordable Housing Outreach Intern

The Housing Search & Advocacy Program is seeking an intern for the Summer or Fall 2022 semesters to help with outreach to individuals who are currently on our waitlist. This position will conduct outreach to approximately 400 individuals and/or their caseworkers to assist them with completing the state-aided C.H.A.M.P.S. application. The goal of this position is to assist these individuals in starting their housing search while they wait to work with and advocate. All ethnicities, gender identifications, backgrounds, etc. are encouraged to apply.

Projects and Learning Outcomes:

  • Gain experience in affordable housing programs.
  • Gain experience conducting telephone and e-mail outreach to homeless and underhoused individuals and medical and homeless providers throughout the state.
  • Lead a project aimed at creating a system to conduct outreach and track outcomes to connect individuals in need of affordable housing to subsidized housing opportunities by helping them complete web-based applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

Please send a resume and cover letter to: Keitha Crozier, Housing Search Services Manager

Agency Description:

Harbor to the Bay is a one-day, 125 or 68 mile charity bike ride benefitting four HIV/AIDS organizations in Massachusetts, including Fenway Health.

We invite you to ride or crew for Fenway! Register today at www.harbortothebay.org and be sure to select Fenway Health as your beneficiary.

Howcommon Is Hiv In Australia

HIV and CNS Opportunistic Infections in HIV

In 2019, there were an estimated29,045 people living with HIV in Australia. 10% of those were undiagnosed, whichmeans that the individual is unaware of their HIV status. Though unlike in thepast, HIV is now able to be managed with treatment, so that those diagnosed areable to live long and happy lives. Research shows that 91% of people diagnosedwith HIV in Australia were receiving treatment and 97% of those on medicationhad an undetectable viral load. Explain undetectable viral load

Infection rates among Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander people are between 1.3 and 1.9 times higher compared tonon-Indigenous Australians over the past five years.

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Health Officials Struggle To Contain Boston Hiv Outbreak

Public health officials are struggling to contain an outbreak of HIV among homeless drug users in Boston that has persisted since early 2019 and likely worsened as the pandemic limited access to services such as testing.

So far the outbreak has affected 113 people, with 13 new cases identified between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28. And the virus, which is deadly when untreated, is thought to be spreading undetected among people who inject drugs and lack stable housing.

It is astounding that we have as many cases as we do, said Dr. Jennifer José Lo, medical director of the Boston Public Health Commission. It is not easy to transmit HIV. Its a very preventable, very treatable disease. . . . Its impacting a community that is already encountering many significant challenges.

HIV cases were happening before the recent outbreak, but increases in homelessness and fentanyl use have accelerated its spread.

Its continuing. Its not like this is new, said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director of the state health departments Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. The fact is, its really hard to control.

A sharp drop-off in HIV testing occurred when the state issued the stay-at-home order in March 2020. The state public health laboratory performed more than 3,000 HIV tests in January 2020 but only about 200 in April of that year. Testing has gradually increased but has not returned to previous levels.

Are Some Regions Of The United States More Impacted By Hiv Than Others

Yes. HIV is largely an urban disease, with most cases occurring in metropolitan areas with 500,000 or more people. The South has the highest number of people living with HIV, but if population size is taken into account, the Northeast has the highest rate of people living with HIV.

*Rates per 100,000 people. Includes adults, adolescents, and children under the age of 13.

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Littleton Common Hiv Testing

More than a million people in the United States are HIV-positive. It is possible to have HIV without being aware of it. In reality, about a third of HIV-positive people have no idea they’re infected. You run the risk of infecting others if you have HIV and are ignorant of it. If you test positive, you’ll be able to take steps to prevent the disease from spreading further. Certain groups of people are more affected by HIV than others, such as racial minorities and gay men. Furthermore, HIV is more common in the South.

Despite the fact that HIV has no cure, it can be managed with medication that inhibits the virus’s growth in the body. The medicine must be utilized in order to be effective. If left untreated, HIV can have catastrophic implications, so it’s vital to get tested and treated if you suspect you’re at risk. HIV weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to other infections and potentially fatal diseases including cancer.

You should get tested for HIV if you have had unprotected intercourse with a new partner, had multiple sexual partners, had sexual contact with an infected partner, or used intravenous drugs. One of the most prevalent ways to catch HIV is by sharing needles with an HIV-positive person. While the CDC recommends that everyone who is sexually active get tested for HIV at least once, not everyone who is sexually active does.

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
  • State Health Officials Confirm Cluster Of 7 New Hiv Cases In Boston

    Contemporary Management of HIV.How Common Comorbidities Affect ART Ma

    State health officials confirm cluster of 7 new HIV cases in Boston State health officials confirm cluster of 7 new HIV cases in Boston

    BOSTON State health officials have confirmed a cluster of 7 new HIV cases in Boston.

    The Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Boston 25 that the newly diagnosed cases are people who inject drugs and experienced recent homelessness.

    These recently detected HIV infections follow a cluster first detected in the City in early 2019, renewing concerns about ongoing transmission in… Massachusetts, the state health agency said in a statement Wednesday.

    Between 2000 and 2014, the number of reported HIV infections in Massachusetts declined by 47 percent overall and by 91 percent among people who inject drugs, the DPH said. However, starting in 2015 this trend reversed presumably as a result of the opioid epidemic and the widespread introduction of fentanyl into the illicit drug supply.

    Between 2016 and 2018, a large outbreak of HIV infection occurred in Lawrence and Lowell, with most of these cases among people who inject drugs who were also experiencing homelessness, the DPH said.

    State health officials are calling for healthcare providers to boost vigilance for HIV risk, increase testing for HIV infection, and to rapidly report any new HIV infections to the state.

    Here is some additional information on HIV concerns:

    Statewide

    Boston

    State efforts undertaken to get ahead of these outbreaks

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    The Chances Of Getting Hiv From A One

    Any time someone engages in unsafe sex with an infected partner, they remain at risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease, including HIV. Because HIV spreads through bodily fluids commonly exchanged during sexual intercourse, it doesnt matter if the intercourse occurs only once or many times. However, your chances of getting HIV from a one-night stand increase with every exposure.

    Common Myths About Hiv And Facts Behind Them

    Overcome the myths about HIV by identifying and defeating them with accurate information. At Rapid STD Testing, our doctors, nurses, and support staff love to educate patients about commonly held misconceptions regarding HIV, some of which have survived since the initial outbreak decades ago.

    Because doctors and scientists knew so little about the novel human immunodeficiency virus when it first emerged, people created many myths about the infection. As we learned more about the disease, many of the most popular HIV myths faded away. Find out why we must correct falsehoods about HIV when we encounter them.

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    Unprotected Sex Is Okay If Both Partners Tested Negative For Hiv

    It can take several months before a test can detect HIV. So, even though someone tests negative for HIV, that person may still carry the disease.

    In addition, if a person maintains sexual relationships with multiple partners, they may not always practice safe sex, putting themselves and others at risk for HIV infection. It remains imperative that people practice safe sex, even if both parties recently tested negative for HIV.

    Epidemiology Of Hiv Care

    HIV: Clinical Disease and Opportunistic Infections

    The CDC also updated its estimates of the percentage of individuals infected with HIV who were unaware of their infection . The number of undiagnosed HIV infections was calculated by subtracting diagnosed AIDS prevalence and diagnosed HIV prevalence from the estimated overall HIV prevalence. This new analysis indicates that 1 in 5 people living with HIV in 2006 were unaware of their infection. Whites had the lowest percentage of undiagnosed infections compared with Hispanics/Latinos , blacks/African Americans , American Indians/Alaska Natives , and Asians/Pacific Islanders . Persons with a behavioral risk of IDU had the lowest percentage of undiagnosed infections compared with a rate of 26.7% in men exposed through heterosexual contact and 23.5% in MSM.

    In an attempt to diagnose and treat HIV infection earlier than is currently the case, the CDC has recommended universal testing for HIV during routine medical care to identify individuals with HIV/AIDS and link them to HIV-specific medical services . The recommendations specify routine testing for all Americans aged 1364 years . Routine testing is intended not only to identify persons who are unaware that they are HIV infected but also to remove the stigma of being tested.

    These challenges and the best practices to link HIV-infected individuals to care are explored in the remaining papers in this supplement.

    Recommended Reading: How Do You Contract Hiv

    You Can Tell If Someone Has Hiv/aids

    Early on, many people had yet tolearn about the symptoms of HIV and thought the virus presented robust symptoms. However, this misunderstanding stemmed from a failure to appreciate the difference between HIV and AIDS. Some people may not know they have HIV because they may not experience any symptoms. Alternatively, they may suffer from symptoms that they attribute to other conditions, such as the flu.Same-day STD testing can help clear away any doubts and provide near-instant results about ones HIV status.

    Senate Passes Legislation To Increase Access To Hiv Prevention Medication

    Senate Passes Legislation to Increase Access to HIV Prevention Medication

    Bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis , which is highly effective in preventing HIV

    The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed legislation which would increase access to the life-saving HIV prevention medication pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, by allowing pharmacists to prescribe it to patients on a short-term basis. This important bill, which was passed on the last day of Pride Month, will support the Commonwealths efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV, which continues to disproportionately affect members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, and low-income individuals.

    Senate Passes Legislation to Increase Access to HIV Prevention Medication

    Bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis , which is highly effective in preventing HIV

    The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed legislation which would increase access to the life-saving HIV prevention medication pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, by allowing pharmacists to prescribe it to patients on a short-term basis. This important bill, which was passed on the last day of Pride Month, will support the Commonwealths efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV, which continues to disproportionately affect members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, and low-income individuals.

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    Data Collection And Sources

    A chart abstraction tool used by MDPH for routine HIV medical record review was expanded and included: patient demographics and social history HIV risk exposure medical visits, including dates, reason for and type of visit screening for HIV infection HIV treatment, including diagnosis date, HIV viral load and CD4 cell count test results, and antiretroviral treatment screening for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis C hepatitis B immunity history of SUD and treatment, including medication assisted treatment and hospitalizations, including dates, facility, reasons for admission, and diagnosis of bacterial infection. Data were abstracted from medical records by trained and experienced medical record abstractors. MDPH, through collaboration with JSI Research and Training , has conducted routine review of medical records since 1999.

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