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(3/8/2007)

HIV/AIDS Up in South Dakota

2006 was state's second highest year for new cases

PIERRE, S.D. – For the second year in a row, South Dakota has reported more than 30 new cases of HIV. There were 34 new cases in 2006, up from 33 in 2005 and the state’s highest number since 1995 when 35 were reported. The 2006 numbers were reported in the just-released South Dakota HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report.

"Nationally in 2005, South Dakota had the fourth lowest rate of adults and adolescents living with HIV infection (28 per 100,000 population) in the country, just above Iowa at 22, Wyoming at 21 and North Dakota at 14,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist for the Department of Health. “South Dakota had the second lowest rate of people living with AIDS, 19 per 100,000 population, just above North Dakota with 13.”

In accord with national recommendations issued by CDC this past September, the South Dakota Department of Health advises health care providers to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part of medical care for patients 13 to 64 years of age.

“We are also seeing increases in other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia, which is not surprising since the risk factors are the same – injection drug use, multiple partners, unprotected sex,” said Dr. Kightlinger. “People who practice these behaviors need to know they are at risk for HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis. The only way to find out whether you’re infected is to be tested.”

Other findings of the South Dakota surveillance report:

• 529 South Dakota residents have been reported infected with HIV since 1985 when the first case was identified;

• 325 South Dakota residents are currently living with HIV/AIDS; 313 South Dakota residents have been diagnosed with AIDS since 1985;

• 29% of South Dakotans living with HIV/AIDS were women and 71% men;

• among South Dakotans living with HIV/AIDS, the three largest categories of transmission were male-to-male sexual transmission at 36%, heterosexual transmission at 25% and injection drug use at 17%;

• Since 2000, 22% of South Dakota’s HIV cases have been foreign born.

Individuals interested in being involved in HIV Prevention planning in South Dakota may contact the department’s HIV Prevention Manager at 605-773-3737. A copy of the latest surveillance report and information about HIV/AIDS prevention, counseling and testing can be found on the department's web site at http://www.state.sd.us/doh/HIV/.