sgroves@delphosherald.com

Editor’s note: Unless noted otherwise, all statistical information contained within this article is from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program which details transmission categories, ages, race, ethnicity and sex.

After 31 years of detailing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it seems as if the world has become a bit desensitized to the headlines regarding the number of HIV and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) related cases and deaths. Unfortunately, the disease is still very prevalent in the Tri-county area.

According to the Allen County Health Department, there are an average of 8 new HIV cases each year in the county. It is contracted in four modes: blood, semen, vaginal secretions and through breast feeding. Some people do not see themselves as risks and at risk is anyone having unprotected sex. The number one concern is there are more sexually-active younger adults age 18-24 contracting the disease. In addition, many new diagnosed cases of HIV are accompanied by the chronic bacterial co-infection Syphilis.

In 2007, there were 102 people living in Allen County diagnosed with HIV (retrovirus) infections, which included 38 white males, 14 white females, 24 black males, 19 black females, 3 Hispanic males, 2 Hispanic females and 2 unknown. Of those cases, those aged 45-49 were the highest percentage of diagnosed cases at 20 percent, followed by the 40-44-year-old range at 17 percent, and the 50-54- and 55-64-year-old range, each shared the 15 percent ranking.