Figures released Friday by the South Dakota Department of Health show an increase in the state's HIV infection rate, with 26 new cases reported during the first six months of this year, compared to 19 for all of 2004.

"We are finding two things that may have contributed to the increase -- intravenous methamphetamine use and use of the Internet to hook up with new sex partners," said Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist. "The trends for both these risk behaviors have been on the rise nationally and we're seeing their presence here as well."

The health department is attempting to make health care providers aware of the trends, and it will coordinate efforts with the state's Methamphetamine Task Force, according to Kightlinger.

The health department's July surveillance report notes:

• 488 South Dakota residents have been infected with HIV since 1985.
• 286 residents have been diagnosed with AIDS since 1985, and
• 285 South Dakotans are now living with HIV/AIDS.

Since 2002, 37 percent of cases have been heterosexual, primarily women exposed by a partner. Since 2002, 47 percent of cases have been white, 27 percent American Indian, 17 percent black and 7 percent Hispanic or other races. Ninety percent of HIV/AIDS cases since 2002 have occurred among people 30 and over.

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