With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
People with HIV are finding out more quickly
A mobile testing program manager uses a photographer's finger to demonstrate how to obtain a blood sample to test for HIV inside a mobile HIV screening lab in Los Angeles.
(
David McNew/Getty Images
)
Listen
0:46
People with HIV are finding out more quickly
The CDC estimates that in 2015 the average gap between infection and diagnosis was three years. That's seven months less than it estimated for 2011.
Americans with HIV are getting diagnosed more quickly than in the past, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Based on national data, the CDC estimates that in 2015 the average gap between infection and diagnosis was three years. That's seven months less than its estimate for 2011.
"These findings are more encouraging signs that the tide continues to turn on our nation’s HIV epidemic," said CDC Director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald. "HIV is being diagnosed more quickly, the number of people who have the virus under control is up, and annual infections are down."
But Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based Aids Healthcare Foundation, said this is a good news, bad news situation.
Sponsored message
"During those three years, they could have infected other people without knowing it," he said.
About 40 percent of new HIV cases come from people who don't know they're infected, the CDC said.
"In California we’ve done a lot of things right but we haven’t done all that we could do to bring this down," said Weinstein.
Steps like more outreach and HIV screening during routine emergency room blood tests could help further reduce the time between HIV infection and diagnosis, he said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
