In Louisiana, 15,484 people are currently living with an HIV or a diagnosis of AIDS. Nationally, Louisiana ranks sixth highest in AIDS case rates and tenth in the number of AIDS cases reported.

The spread of HIV is quickening, with more people infected in 2006 than in any previous year. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 4.3 million people were infected with HIV last year, and over 25 million people died worldwide.

On Dec. 1, the Office of Public Healths HIV/AIDS program will join other partners in promoting public awareness about AIDS in communities across the state. This year, the selected theme of “Unite Against AIDS: Leadership” is hoped to inspire a commitment by citizens to take a leadership role in eliminating HIV and the stigma associated with the disease.

“World AIDS Day has been observed Dec. 1 of each year since 1988 to expand and strengthen the efforts to stop the spread of the disease,” said Beth Scalco, director of the HIV/AIDS program in Louisiana. “The events statewide are designed to open the doors of communication, and get conversation, and thus education, flowing.”

Go here for a full listing of events being planned throughout the state.

HIV/AIDS in Louisiana:

• 27,112 persons have been reported with HIV/AIDS, including 299 children; since the beginning of the epidemic 11,325 persons with HIV/AIDS have died.

• The Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas ranked sixth and seventh respectively in AIDS case rates among the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

• HIV continues to disproportionately affect African-Americans in Louisiana. In 2006, 68 percent of persons newly diagnosed with HIV and 71 percent of persons newly diagnosed with AIDS were African Americans.

• In Louisiana, 20 percent of new HIV diagnoses are among young persons ages 13-24.

• In 2006, 1,053 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Louisiana; 30 percent of the new diagnoses were in the Baton Rouge area, and 25 percent were in the New Orleans area.

• In 2006, 767 people were newly diagnosed with AIDS in Louisiana; 29 percent of the new AIDS diagnoses were in the New Orleans area and 29 percent were in the Baton Rouge area.

Submitted by Rob Anderson. Filed under News

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