Who's infected and doesn't know it

Recent data from the CDC provides more detail about the approximately 232,700 living in the U.S. living with HIV who do not know it:

• Over 113,000 are African American
• Men infected through heterosexual contact (male/female) were more likely to be undiagnosed that either MSM (male-male) or hetersexual women.
• Almost half (47.8%) of the young people (ages 13-24) living with HIV were undiagnosed, a greater proportion than any other age group.

Clearly, HIV testing remains a essential tool to addressing the HIV epidemic. At least one quarter (1/4) to one-half (1/2) of all new HIV infections are transmitted by undiagnosed people. Studies show that most HIV diagnosed people make an effort to protect their partners. Moreover, early detection is a key to successful treatment.

Are you positive that you're negative (for HIV) ?

CONDOMnation I

On December 11, 2008, an FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended the approval of the FC2, a new female condom. The FC2 would be 30% cheaper than the current version, even though male condoms are much less expensive. A cheaper female condom, if widely distributed, could prevent tens of thousands of HIV infections worldwide in part because it allows women to take the lead in protecting themselves. Nationally, the rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was nearly 23 times the rate for white women and high-risk sexual contact was responsible for 74 percent of those infections. Lets hope that the FDA gets it right and approves the new female condom soon.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day was December 1st. Maybe its just me but I heard very little about it this year-even less than last year. Have we become too complacent about HIV/AIDS? Or is it because it has become a condition that disproportionately affects people of color. I understand that the election and our struggling economy has taken the spotlight lately, but we can't spend one day to acknowledge perhaps the greatest health crisis of modern times?

Dumb and Dumberer

Just when you thought that we had turned the corner about understanding HIV/AIDS in this country, two Minneapolis radio station talk hosts accused Magic Johnson of faking AIDS. Of course, the one question that they could not answer is: what would he gain faking AIDS and giving up a lucrative NBA career, exposing himself to the (inappropriate) ridicule of millions, not to mention the "he must be gay whispers." Ludicrous!

CDC Needs More $$$ to Fight HIV

CDC officials on Tuesday at a House Government Reform and Oversight Committee hearing said they would need an additional $4.8 billion dollars over the next five years to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections in the U.S. As many of you may know, the CDC released a study last month that found that about 56,300 new HIV infections occur annually in the U.S.

Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, told the committee that although the additional amount of money requested is high, it could reduce the HIV transmission rate by 50% over 12 years. Although the $4.8 billion request is a significant amount of money, it would be more expensive not to treat HIV, Fauci said. Each HIV infection costs more than $1 million in treatment and lost productivity and that if CDC can prevent 4,800 new infections over five years, the programs established with increased funding would be "cost saving to society."

Now, how much is that Wall Street bailout again?

More on Conspiracy Theories

Recently, I met what appeared to be an educated, older African American gentleman at presentation that I was giving. After exchanging contact information, he literally tracked me down to communicate what he claimed was "very important information" that would be valuable to my (BEBASHI'S) clients. The 'information' pertained to a book and a website both claiming to dispute that HIV causes AIDS as well a virtually every other scientific fact about HIV/AIDS. He also gave me information about a product that supposedly cures HIV.

I understand that many of us are skeptical about what the federal government and big business, (such as pharmaceutical companies) tell us. Therefore, I looked into this information. I read excerpts from the book; looked at the credentials of of the person who wrote it as well as the other 1500 or so members of his group; and read the so-called study that described the "experiment" testing the drug. I came away with the following question:

Why are we so quick to believe people with these alternative theories about HIV/AIDS who lack infectious disease research/treatment experience, credentials and any real standing in the scientific community, when there are mountains of reputable research and decades of practical experience to the contrary. How could one so-called study, or one book diminish all of the other evidence?

The Risk of STI'S with Other Sexual Activities

A new article by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published in the Journal: Obstetrics and Gynecology, reports that despite what many believe, "noncoital" sexual activities -- such as oral sex, mutual masturbation and anal sex still come with varying degrees of STI (sexually transmitted infection) risk.

Many people, especially adolescents, engage in oral, anal or mutual masterbation to reduce pregnancy risk, avoid using condoms thereby placing them at risk for acquiring an STI. In terms of HIV transmission, receptive anal sex carries the highest risk, followed by receptive vaginal sex. Therefore it is important to remember that anyone with whom one has sex, could potentially infect you with and STI, including HIV. Some of the ways to protect oneself are: Knowing one's partner-staying in a monogamous relationship and both of you getting tested for STI's before commencing sex; consistent and correct use of condoms for any kind of sex and; of course, abstinence.

Remember, not all STI's are curable and some are asymptomatic (meaning they do not have noticeable symptoms) So you might be infected and not even know it. Look before you leap!