Nebraska's HIV Cases Increase, AIDS Cases Decrease

The number of new HIV cases reported in Nebraska increased by 53 percent last year as new cases among white patients more than doubled, state health officials announced this week. There are now 567 HIV cases in Nebraska, according to the annual report. Whites had 56 of the new cases last year, with 11 new cases among Hispanics. Cases among blacks decreased from 20 in 2000 to 18 last year. The increase in new HIV cases may be a result of more awareness and testing, said Tina Burbaker, leader of the state's AIDS/HIV surveillance efforts. Minority groups may not be getting the necessary testing and therefore are not being diagnosed with HIV, said Jill Jeffrey, director of education at the Nebraska AIDS Project.

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