World AIDS Day – Do You Know Your Status? [VIDEO]

After 30 years of AIDS, people under 30 face greatest risk.  People who weren’t yet born when AIDS first emerged sadly are today most at risk for becoming HIV positive. This is an alarming development that underscores how essential AIDS awareness is. December 1st is World AIDS Day.

From 2006 to 2009, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported that the HIV incidence rate for Americans between 13 and 29 years old increased by about 21 percent. In fact, most of the new HIV infections reported in this country involve people under 30 which is a startling fact. Americans under 30 have never known a world without AIDS. At the same time, they’ve never really known a time when effective treatment for HIV and AIDS wasn’t available.

However, with the help of Science we’ve come a long way with improvements to prescription drugs, long-term care plans and more innovative treatments are helping Americans with AIDS live longer and stronger lives. It’s no longer viewed as a sudden death sentence when people contract HIV --which is the virus that causes AIDS.

But many challenges still remain.   People under age 30 face the greatest risk. More than one out of every three new cases each year are in people under 30. AIDS awareness is a big part of the problem we face when trying to prevent it.  That’s why United Health Foundation partnered with the non-profit Act against AIDS, launched by the Centers for Disease Control, to produce this important public service announcement campaign. 

Visit www.actagainstaids.org to gain information about local sites where they can get tested and education materials.

Do you know your status? Don't think you are at risk? Please watch the videos below. More senior citizens are contracting the disease. HIV/AIDS is not a "gay" disease. It's not only for people who live in developing countries. It's not a "junkie" disease. In fact, the CDC has had increased reports of married older Americans contracting this disease. Please educate yourself and get tested. Ignorance ISN'T bliss.