Lansing, MI - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of HIV and STD Programs is encouraging Michiganders to make HIV testing a part of their life in support of National HIV Testing Day on Monday, June 27.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and that number grows by nearly 40,000 people each year. The CDC has found that more than 90 percent of new HIV infections in the United States could be prevented by testing and diagnosing people who have HIV and ensuring they receive prompt, ongoing care and treatment.
“HIV testing is essential to health care and services that are central in managing HIV and promoting health among all people living with HIV. It is also an important tool in ending the HIV epidemic,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “It is important for people to be aware of their status as it provides important information that empowers them to live a healthy life.”
Findings show significantly greater health benefits for persons who start antiretroviral therapy (ART), the medication used to treat HIV, earlier. Medicines to treat HIV can help keep people living with HIV healthy for many years, and significantly reduce the chance of transmitting HIV.
Undetectable Equals Untransmittable demonstrates that a person living with HIV who is taking ART as prescribed, and who has an undetectable viral load in their blood sample for at least six months, has a negligible risk of transmitting HIV sexually.
Current CDC recommendations call for everyone to be tested for HIV at least once in their life as part of routine health care, and people at higher risk should get tested more often. People at higher risk who test negative for HIV are encouraged to ask their doctor about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that when taken as directed prevents HIV from causing an infection if there is an exposure to the virus.
To learn more about HIV risk factors and prevention visit CDC.gov/HIV.
Many resources exist around Michigan to provide free or reduced cost HIV testing and treatment. To find resources, and HIV testing locations, visit Michigan.gov/HIVSTI.