Posted on 01/06/2008 6:04:31 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
At the cusp of an epidemic
New data on HIV/AIDS in Cameron County reveals deadly inadequacies in the extent and frequency of local testing.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services the county had 742 confirmed cases of HIV and AIDS at the close of 2006. About half of the cases had advanced to AIDS.
The data confirm that six times more Hispanics have HIV/AIDS than any other ethnic group in the county, where slightly more than 80 percent of the population is Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest figures.
State statistics also show that three times more males have reported cases of HIV/AIDS than females. These data reflect the national male-female ratio.
Most of the cases in Cameron County were a result of men having sex with men, or MSM. The practice of two men having sexual intercourse is referred to as MSM because not all men who have sex with other men identify as gay or bisexual.
The second most frequent mode of transmission was heterosexual contact. The third was intravenous drug use.
HIV/AIDS data is collected whenever a new case is reported. It is a legal requirement for testing facilities to report any positive test results, though patients are not identified in statistics.
According to the AIDS Education Training Center or AETC, which publishes information about HIV/AIDS in Texas, there are less reported cases of infection in Texas border counties than in the rest of the state.
This statistic does not conform to what is known about how the virus is commonly transmitted, potentially indicating an under-tested population.
“We almost discontinued the border report because the data is potentially inaccurate,” said Cynthia Taylor, an epidemiologist with the TDSHS.
‘RIPE TO EXPLODE’
(Excerpt) Read more at brownsvilleherald.com ...
Great. Imagine the cost associated with caring for illegal aids cases.
Thanks George. It just keeps getting worse.
Illegal immigration should have never happened.
>>‘RIPE TO EXPLODE’<<
The feeling I always get looking at Salma Hayak.
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