Connecticut to Track HIV-Infected Adults

The Connecticut health department will begin collecting information on adults infected with HIV, an official said Tuesday. Beginning early next year, the state Department of Public Health will begin collecting the data, including names, but those who wish to remain anonymous will have that option. "The commissioner wanted to get as much feedback as possible, hear all sides of the issue and come up with his plan of action," said William Gerrish, a spokesperson for the department.

Many HIV activists have favored a system to allow names of those infected to remain a secret. Despite the debate over the use of names, both sides agreed that the state needs much better information on adult HIV cases. When the AIDS outbreak became a national epidemic, HIV infection led to AIDS and death in a way that was statistically predictable. AIDS data, including names, have long been collected. However, new medical treatments have allowed many people with HIV to stay healthy and avoid AIDS. As a result, it is no longer possible to infer HIV infection rates from reported AIDS cases.

The number of reported AIDS cases in Connecticut dropped from 1,197 in 1997 to 620 last year, an infection rate of 18.2 per 100,000, which places Connecticut sixth among states in the rate of AIDS infections. The federal government plans to link federal grants to the number of HIV cases, and states with weak HIV data will lose out. Connecticut is receiving $19.3 million this year, of which $12.8 million is for treatment.

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