New AIDS Cases Drop in South Florida

Between 2004 and 2005, new AIDS cases were down in Broward, Monroe and Miami-Dade counties, while figures for new HIV cases were mixed, according to Florida Department of Health data. The number of new AIDS cases fell by 14 percent in Broward, from 953 to 826; by 9 percent in Miami-Dade, from 1,316 to 1,209; and from 34 to 30 cases in Monroe County. Those declines mirror state figures showing new AIDS cases down by 12 percent, from 5,517 to 4,869.

But while new HIV cases in Miami-Dade fell from 1,607 to 1,382, new HIV cases rose in Broward from 973 to 1,019 and from 35 to 37 in Monroe County. New HIV cases fell statewide from 6,110 to 5,621.

Between 1998 and 2003, new HIV/AIDS cases generally declined in Miami-Dade, and mostly remained flat in Broward and Monroe counties. While new cases jumped 30 percent in 2004, state officials attributed this to increased testing and a requirement for more detailed data from providers receiving federal funds.

"We're encouraged that there is a decline, but this is not cause for celebration," said Evelyn Ullah, director for Miami-Dade County's HIV/AIDS program. "We still have a lot to do… to stem the tide of HIV/AIDS in our community."

"We've got a community that's very complacent about HIV infection," said Jolene Mullins, who works on early intervention strategies in the Broward County AIDS program office. "It's not in our face anymore… We don't see people walking around with such horrific effects of HIV infections."

"Some of the prevention messages are getting across to people," said Bill McKeon, who runs the South Florida AIDS Network at Jackson Health System. But "even if the numbers have dropped, the issue is very real ... We continue to see a lot of patients."

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