HIV/AIDS BLACK AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus  (HIV).

            HIV is  transmitted by  anal, vaginal  and oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles,   exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and  breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid that contains the AIDS virus in it. Body fluids are identified as  blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid, , and breast milk.           

              First case of AIDS in America was June 1981. From 1981 to 2001 -- 1.4 MILLION persons in United States were infected with HIV. A Feburary 13, 2013 report states that Baton Rouge, La has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in America. The number of people newly diagnosed with HIV in Louisiana increased by 12 percent from 2010 to 2011.Seventy-one percent of the newly diagnosed HIV patients were men. Seventy-four percent were black.

As of December 31, 2010, a cumulative total of 30,876 HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in Louisiana, including 316 pediatric cases; cumulative number of deaths reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Health through December  31, 2010,was 12,755 including 103 deaths among pediatric cases.

Currently,a total of 18,308 persons are living with the HIV/AIDS diagnosis in Louisiana. Treatment is expensive and too many are deemed ineligible for assistance because of incarceration, income of $23000/yr  and having third-party insurance.