Jump in HIV/AIDS cases in Minnesota last year
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports that the number of HIV cases rose by 13 percent last year, marking a 17-year high.
Some 368 HIV cases reported in 2009, compared with 326 cases in 2008, the department reports.
“This increase in cases tells us that HIV/AIDS remains a significant health threat in Minnesota, and we need to take steps to strengthen our prevention efforts,” said Dr. Sanne Magnan, MDH Commissioner.
Some 9,176 HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in Minnesota since MDH began tracking AIDS in 1982 and HIV in 1985.
Minnesota has averaged slightly over 300 cases per year for nearly a decade.
“We haven’t seen the annual number of reported HIV cases at this level since 1992,” said Peter Carr, manager of the HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Section at MDH.
“The increase is driven primarily by a large increase among males 15 to 24 years of age,” he said.
HIV is a disease that is still incurable today. We should always practice safe sex and also educate our people how to avoid the spread of this disease.