Posted on 09/01/2018 5:04:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A cluster of eight people in North Seattle, described as heterosexuals, drug users, and recently homeless, have been diagnosed with HIV infections since February, and health officials worry their cases could represent a new pattern of transmission for the virus that has been in steep decline.
Officials suspect changes in drug use are to blame.
...
The diagnoses are among 19 HIV cases reported so far this year among heterosexuals in King County. For all of last year, that number was seven, according to the health agency. It has averaged 10 for the past decade. Featured Video
Gay and bisexual men are most at risk to contract HIV in Washington state. Statewide, 461 cases were diagnosed each year from 2012-2016, on average, according to state Department of Health statistics. Of those cases, an average of 290 each year were among gay and bisexual men.
Duchin said transmission links among four of the eight people of this cluster have been identified. He said investigators had not tied a specific location to the HIV transmission, other than North Seattle.
At least half of the people in the cluster are receiving medical care. Duchin said health officials are working to make sure syringe-exchange and condom programs are meeting demand. The local health department also is increasing testing and outreach to homeless people.
“If there are a number of cases that we’re not aware of, or if this is the tip of the iceberg, things can get more complicated,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
“Mr. Johnson you have aids..”
“AIDS?! But I’m not homosexual!”
“Sure you’re not homosexual...”
-Eddie Murphy (Delirious)
IV users using dirty needles.....like duh
People be poking things where they oughtn’t, receiving the invoice for it with interest.
The did what they could to de-stigmatize AIDS and other STDs and even tried to make it like it wasn’t the homosexual community in the forefront for spreading it, lobbied to allow those at greatest risk to donate blood, made it legal to expose others w/o telling them - what did they think would happen?
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