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HIV is a disease that made its debut in the early 1980’s with a block buster sized boom. However, like so many other things that, grip our attention so tightly in the beginning, we as a society lost interest. Yet over 25 years later HIV/AIDS has not lost interest in us.

The Obama administration has started a new campaign, “9 ½ minutes”. It’s called 9 ½ minutes because every 9 ½ minutes someone in the United States becomes infected with HIV. Every 9 ½ minutes! That’s huge! HIV is still out there and it’s not going away anytime soon.

One of the problems with HIV is that “I’m not at risk” mentality. Many of you are reading this right now thinking just that. I have worked in the field of HIV for over 10 years and I’ve learned that we are all at risk.

Our grandparents who are widowed and now living in nursing homes, they’re at risk, even though we don’t want to think about it. Our children, younger than we were when thought about having sex, they’re at risk. Those of us who have been married for years and only been with our spouse, unfortunately we too are at risk. Just this morning I saw on television that 50% of men have cheated, weather that figure is right or wrong doesn’t matter, what matters is that just because you haven’t been unfaithful doesn’t you’re your spouse hasn’t.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that more than 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. That is over 30% of the population. Unfortunately 1 in 5 of those infected don’t know they have it. Do you know your HIV status?

HIV is transmitted 3 ways: Mother to Infant: either during the birthing process or through breast feeding, Sex: and yes Oral sex does count, or Sharing Needles.

Focusing on the second and third, is it at all possible that you have it? If you’ve done something above, yes it is possible. So what can you do to reduce risk? Practice safe sex, don’t share needles ever.

National HIV Testing Day is June 27th. The test is quick and easy. They can test by a swab in your mouth.

So how is it possible that they can test you through your mouth and you can’t get it from kissing? The test actually removes particles from your spit that detects anti-HIV antibodies, proteins that the body immune system makes in response to HIV. The test is not actually measuring the HIV. A confirmatory test would be needed if a positive result came back.

Saturday is a great opportunity to get the test and learn your status. If you need a testing site in your area log onto www.hivtest.org for a site near you.