HIV cases in the US fell 17 percent during the pandemic.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — New case diagnosis HIV in the United States was observed to fall by 17 percent during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s according to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but experts don’t think it’s good news.
The director of the HIV/AIDS prevention division (DHAP) at the CDC, Demetre Daskalakis, highlighted that this was an impact of the pandemic. Could be, rules lockdown when the pandemic breaks out means there are far fewer people being tested, including the group most at risk.
“Usually, we celebrate a 17 percent drop in HIV diagnoses. However, we know that something happened in particular in 2020 that made that 17 percent drop just the impact of Covid-19 on HIV testing,” Daskalakis said.
While many people are now able to order HIV testing kits at home, it cannot compensate for the loss of HIV testing services during the early start of the pandemic. Experts fear that thousands of people may be living with an undiagnosed HIV infection.
Prior to the pandemic, the CDC estimated more than one million people were living with HIV in the US, but about 13 percent were unaware of it. There is no cure for HIV. Treatment and care can only make the sufferer live healthy in the long term. After starting treatment, people living with HIV can potentially eliminate the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
The CDC report found that some of the groups most at risk of HIV experienced the steepest declines in testing rates in 2020. Data were compiled from community testing centers, correctional facilities, and non-medical settings that provide HIV testing.
According to the report, there was a 29 percent drop in HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men. A 47 percent decline was observed among transgender people. There was also a 44-46 percent drop in testing among blacks, Hispanics, and Latinos. The three ethnicities had a higher risk of HIV, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Daskalakis explained that the findings could mean that some people are not aware of their HIV status. The good news is that most HIV testing services are now back up and running. Daskalakis said that now is a good time to encourage everyone to get tested for HIV.
CDC rules require teens and adults ages 13-64 to be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. Those who are at a higher risk of exposure (including people who are sexually active with multiple partners) should be tested more frequently. ABC NewsTuesday (28/6/2022).
