HIV cases rise 13 percent in 2009

By: Chaas Toborg

Posted: 2/10/10

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are not topics atop most lists of conversation pieces. The latest reports suggest these taboo and uncomfortable words should start inching their way up these lists.

Minnesota saw increases in 2009, with the Minnesota Department of Health reporting 66 more new cases of HIV and AIDS on record than in 2008.

HIV is passed from person to person through blood-to-blood contact and sexual activity. The most misunderstood fact of this disease is the spread of it. Heather Rage, a nurse at Fairview Hospital in the Twin Cities, offers a few quick facts.

"You would have to drink a gallon of an infected person's saliva to contract the virus. It gets better, though," Rage said. "The HIV virus can only live for 10 seconds in a completely oxygenated environment."

That means gulping 6.4 ounces of saliva per second, which is just about three-fourths of a can of pop. The virus' instability against oxygen gives reason for its ferocious nature within the body.

The only way for the virus to replicate itself is to infect other living cells. It thrives in humans because it attacks our immune systems, the mechanism used to fight off viruses.

Once this virus kills or damages enough immune system cells, the body loses its' ability to fight off any infections. When a patient reaches this point, they are diagnosed with AIDS. AVERT.com, an International AIDS charity from the UK working to avert HIV and AIDS world wide, says it takes approximately 10 years to develop AIDS after contracting HIV.

The yearly report was made public by the Minnesota Department of Health. The number of new HIV cases in Minnesota rose 13 percent, jumping from 326 to 368 (per 100,000 persons).

AIDS have been around since the early 80s, so why are the numbers so high 30 years later? To Rage, it seems to be a matter of education.

"People think that they can not use protection," Rage said. "They think that with today's [medical] technologies they can have unsafe sex and get any issues corrected at the clinic."

The numbers seem more troubling when looking at the bigger picture.

AVERT.com says there were 2.7 million people who acquired the HIV virus in America over 2008. They estimate 33 million people worldwide to have the virus.

Of total cases in Minnesota, those aged 20 through 24 showed the highest proportion of infections in 2009, registering 70 total cases per 100,000 people, 57 males and 13 females.

Minnesota is actually considered a "low-incidence state" despite the local growth, according to the Minnesota Department of Health report. In 2007, Minnesota qualified as the number 11 lowest rate of incidence according to the report. The Minnesota Department of Health's report wrote 2013 as their estimate for the next national comparison of HIV/AIDS statistics. It should be by this year when "all states have mature HIV reporting systems," that such a report can be accurately done again.

When thinking about HIV and AIDS locally, Minnesota's yearly report can put some ease into the step of Duluth residents. In 2009, one person for every 100,000 in St. Louis county was infected with HIV. This is opposed to 191 people per 100,000 in Hennepin County, the state's highest-ranking county.

Here at UMD, options are available for students who want to learn more about the prevention, as well as those who have already contracted the virus.

Health Services provides complete Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment.

Now we have knowledge, statistics, some history and another year to reduce risky behavior along with the spread of this deadly disease. Be safe.