New map finds HIV rates are highest in the South

(Atlanta) A new Internet data map offers a first-of-its-kind, county-level look at HIV cases in the U.S. and finds the infection rates tend to be highest in the South.

The highest numbers of HIV cases are in population centers like New York and California. However, many of the areas with the …

The gay condom debate

To wear or not to wear? The condom debate among gay men, especially in Washington, D.C., where HIV cases are alarmingly high, is especially important.

Gay men do not need condoms for their primary use – birth control – but still need them to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

An estimated one in 20 adults in D.C. is affected with HIV and 37 percent of cases affect sexually active gay men, according to the Whitman-Walker Clinic, which provides HIV testing.

While some gay men do not use condoms because it “feels better” or “feels more natural,” other gay men in the D.C. community are speaking out and promoting safe sex.

Michael Komo, president of GW’s Allied in Pride, is taking steps forward in promoting condom use among gay men.

“There is no reason for two people who are sexually active with one another to not use condoms,” Komo said. “We need to do everything as a community in order to promote safe sex.”

While he promotes condom use, Komo also suggests sexually active gay men get tested for HIV every six months.

“My philosophy is that it is better to be safe than sorry. I have done everything in my power to promote sex safe,” said Komo. “I am a huge advocate for using protection. I think that there will always be a debate, whether it be among gay men or straight partners, about whether or not to use a condom during sex.”

GW’s Allied in Pride office provides free condoms.

“We want people to protect themselves if they are having sex,” Komo said. “There is no reason for people to not be safe. (Condoms) take very little effort to use. We always have and always will advocate for practicing safe sex.”

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The George Washington University The GW Hatchet* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

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Novel SF program tries to cut new HIV cases

This month, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation is launching an innovative program designed to catch new HIV infections shortly after they occur – when the risk of transmission is the highest.

The goal of the two-year pilot project, the first of its kind in the nation, is to reduce by half the number of new HIV cases by 2015.

During the two- or three-month period after infection, the viral load is highest and the danger of transmission is also at its peak. As many as half of all new infections are estimated to occur during the acute phase.

“The virus gets in your body and starts to replicate at a very high rate before the natural immune responses of your body start to mobilize,” said Mark Cloutier, chief executive of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

The expanded testing, along with counseling, will take place at Magnet, a community health center for gay men in the Castro.

Clients who report engaging in recent, high-risk behavior will be invited to take viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) testing, which will identify those who are acutely infected. They will also be encouraged to alert their partners.

It takes two weeks to get results. During that time, said Steve Gibson, director of Magnet, clients are counseled to behave prudently, as if they were HIV-positive.

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San Francisco Chronicle, USA

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Most HIV cases in Pak. unreported?

IV cases among gay men up

THE number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the gay community has hit a record high this year.

The surge is driven by MSM (men who have sex with men) who engage in high-risk behaviour such as unprotected sex with multiple partners. It is attributed to several reasons, including a reduced fear of the virus, drug use and rebellion.

Based on numbers released by the Ministry of Health last week, homosexual transmissions accounted for 32 per cent, and bisexual transmissions 5 per cent, of the 153 new HIV cases detected in the first six months of this year. Last year, MSM cases made up 34 per cent of total HIV infections, and in 2001, just 16 per cent.

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Straits Times, Singapore -