2006 Estimate: 639 New HIV Infections

CDC's latest estimates of disease incidence, including people who may not know they are infected, show Indiana had 639 new HIV cases in 2006.

Previously, the Indiana State Department of Health only knew how many people were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each year. "The purpose of this [new estimate] is to tell us where this epidemic of infections is going now, where are the most high-risk populations," said Jerry Burkman, director of the department's Division of HIV/STD.

The CDC data confirm that HIV/AIDS is most prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among minority populations. A surprising finding, said Burkman, was that people ages 13-24 are a key risk group.

Using the estimates, Indiana plans to refocus its prevention efforts, Burkman said. CDC has given the state $62,000 to develop a strategic plan for MSM outreach. In addition, the state will boost efforts to persuade health care providers to adopt routine HIV testing of all patients.

"Our long-range goal is to make HIV testing as routine as a diabetes exam, blood pressure check or mammograms, to make it part of a total health package, for children as well," said Burkman.

"The good news is that there's a great infrastructure of agencies all across Indiana to help people get tested," said Stephen Everett, director of the Indiana AIDS Fund. "That's the only way you'll know for sure. If we know who is infected, we can certainly try to slow the transmission rate in our state."

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