One Rochester, N.Y., Woman's Fight Against AIDS

Karen Murray is a health worker for AIDS Care, a Rochester-area group that provides HIV education and disease-related services. In 2010, nearly one-half of the new HIV diagnoses in Monroe County were people younger than age 25, and youths are a particular focus of Murray's efforts. She tells them her story of becoming infected by a man she dated after her divorce. He did not look sick, so they did not use condoms.

Murray says that when she was in school, sex education was composed of a brief anatomy lesson, and no information about STDs or safer-sex practices. She believes young people today need frequent lessons, given the number of teens who are sexually active and the high rates of STDs among youths.

"They just don't understand how much [disease] is out there," Murray said of the kids she works with. "It needs to be talked about more than one time. The more a person hears, the more they learn. The more they can take in the importance."

Murray, who has two granddaughters in city schools, is closely watching the debate over district plans to improve STD education. The proposed AIDS education component is in the preliminary planning stages, with a vote on establishing an advisory council to draft recommendations still months away.

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