June 25, 2009

Montana Reports Increase in New HIV Diagnoses

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is reporting an increase in new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) diagnoses and is encouraging people to get tested.

Since January 1, 2009, there have been 19 new HIV diagnoses in the state.  “For the last several years there has been an average of about 20 newly diagnosed cases a year,” said DPHHS director Anna Whiting Sorrell. “To already have 19 new cases reported this year suggests that people may be increasingly putting themselves at risk. I encourage anyone interested to take advantage of the many HIV testing sites available in Montana.”

A list of state HIV testing sites is available at http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/PHSD/STD-HIV/HIV_Testing.shtml. National HIV Testing Day is Saturday, June 27. “This is a good reminder to think about being tested for HIV,” Whiting Sorrell said.

HIV is spread though blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. In Montana, men having unprotected sex with other men, injection drug use, and unprotected heterosexual sex are the most frequently reported potential modes of exposure of newly diagnosed HIV cases. 

Many Montanans receive an HIV diagnosis simultaneously with an AIDS diagnosis suggesting long-term disease progression has occurred.  “HIV is a serious, life-long infection that is preventable,” said Laurie Kops, HIV/STD section supervisor for DPHHS.  “Early detection of infection can improve disease outcomes due to availability of effective medication and prevent further transmission of the virus. And, with the advent of rapid HIV tests, results are available in 20 minutes instead of a week.” 

New HIV diagnoses in Montana have not been limited to any one age group, region of the state, race, or sex and new national guidelines for HIV testing recommend everyone ages 13-64 be routinely tested for HIV. 

Page last updated: 06/23/2009