Bismarck, N.D. – Around 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and one in eight people don’t know they have it. In 2016, 50 cases of HIV were reported in ND. Since the number of new cases of HIV has been increasing in ND since 2011, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) urges all individuals at-risk for HIV to know their status and be tested.
HIV testing is the gateway to prevention and care. Individuals who test negative have more prevention tools, such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), available today than ever before. Individuals who test positive can take HIV medicines that can keep them healthy for many years and greatly reduce their chance of passing HIV to others. More than 90% of new HIV infections in the United States could be prevented by testing and diagnosing people living with HIV and making sure they receive early, ongoing treatment.
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, a day to get the facts, get tested, and get involved!
Get the Facts. Learn about HIV, and share this lifesaving information with your family, friends, and community. Tell them about the importance of making HIV testing a part of their regular health routine.
Get Tested. Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help keep you and your partner healthy.
It is recommended that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. People with certain risk factors such as: having multiple sex partners, those who inject drugs and shared needles or works with others, men who have sex with men and those diagnosed with other sexually transmitted diseases should get tested more often.
Our agency offers free and confidential testing. You can receive your test results for HIV within 15 minutes. Call to make an appointment at 701.355.1540. We are offering free HIV testing on June 27th, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Get Involved. CDC offers many resources to help you raise awareness about HIV testing in your community. Doing It is a new national HIV testing and prevention campaign designed to motivate all adults to get tested for HIV and know their status. Join Doing It on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.