Today, December 1, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its partners will observe World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. CDC works with Ministries of Health and other public health partners, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to combat HIV/AIDS by strengthening health systems and building sustainable, evidence-based HIV/AIDS programs in more than 75 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Worldwide, 33.4 million people are living with HIV. In the U.S., an estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV. Of those, as many as 1 in 5 people (21%) are unaware of their HIV infection. An estimated 56,300 Americans become infected with HIV each year.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the flu or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. HIV testing is important because finding new HIV infections means people can get lifesaving treatment early and can take steps to protect their loved ones from being infected. MCDH’s HIV program offers free HIV testing by appointment (815-334-4500) which includes the development of a risk reduction plan and referral to other community services as needed. Community HIV education is also available.
To learn more about HIV/AIDS, how it is and is not transmitted, the risk factors for HIV transmission, preventing transmission and the symptoms of HIV infection, visit www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic.
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