Officials Say Baton Rouge AIDS Cases Growing at Alarming Rate

The Baton Rouge, La., metropolitan area is one of seven areas nationwide to have between 1,000 and 2,000 new AIDS cases diagnosed in the last five years. Baton Rouge ranks 16th in the nation with new AIDS cases. The metro area has a higher rate of new AIDS cases than the metro areas of Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles, according to the CDC. Those statistics have Baton Rouge leaders worried and trying to find ways to cope with the epidemic and educate residents. Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster declared this week "Know AIDS Mobilization" week to spread information about the disease. Activities such as forums and informational fairs will take place at Southern University, Louisiana State University and Baton Rouge Community College as part of the spotlight on HIV/AIDS awareness.

Last year, the region, which includes East and West Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston parishes, had the highest HIV/AIDS detection rate in the state -- more than even New Orleans -- with 50 cases per 100,000 people. The state average is 26, according to Jennifer Chase, an epidemiologist for the state HIV/AIDS program in the Office of Public Health (OPH). Nearly 4,000 Baton Rouge area residents are infected with HIV/AIDS; statewide, about 12,700 people are infected, according to OPH statistics. Madeline McAndrew, OPH assistant secretary, said East Baton Rouge Parish has received federal grant money to determine why the growth rate in the area is worse than in other, much larger, metropolitan areas.

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