New Mexico: New HIV/AIDS Cases Spike in County

An increase in newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in Bernalillo County has health officials concerned the disease could be on the rebound in the Albuquerque area. "Albuquerque is another American city that appears to be experiencing a new rise in HIV cases. That should cause us to redouble our efforts for HIV prevention, in Bernalillo County especially," said Dr. Steven Jenison, medical director for the STD/reproductive health clinic for the city's public health offices.

Lily Foster, HIV/AIDS surveillance coordinator with the Department of Health, said the number of new HIV/AIDS cases in the state had remained level at about 100 each year, along with 30-40 deaths. Last year, however, 116 new HIV/AIDS cases were reported in New Mexico, along with around 60 deaths, she said. Most of that increase was reported in Bernalillo County. In 2001, the county had 45 new HIV/AIDS cases, rising to 48 in 2002 and 58 in 2003. Bernalillo County's share of the state's new cases was 45 percent in 2000 but 50 percent last year, Foster said.

Health officials speculate a recent rise in syphilis cases may be behind the increase. Syphilis sores make it easier for HIV to be transmitted, said Jenison. Another possible reason could be that AIDS fatigue and better medicines have contributed to lax HIV prevention by a new generation of gay men, he offered. New Mexico has yet to see a major HIV outbreak in IV drug users, unlike other areas of the country.

In 2003, 44 percent of people diagnosed with HIV had AIDS or developed it within a year, compared with 39 percent nationally, Foster said. "That makes their care much more complicated," she said. Those most likely to get late diagnoses are gay men, Hispanics, people 50 or older, and residents in the northeastern or southwestern parts of the state.

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