1 month ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Despite large advancements successful treatment, HIV corruption rates are rising locally, truthful here’s what 1 doc wants you to know.
Since the aboriginal 2000s, HIV attraction has dramatically improved. Once considered a decease sentence, the microorganism is present manageable with due attraction and medication, allowing patients to unrecorded long, steadfast lives. But portion subject has advanced, the microorganism has not disappeared.
“HIV is simply a illness that affects everyone,” Dr. Erica Kasper, aesculapian manager of the Special Services Clinic astatine Community Health System, said. “The biggest stigma is this misperception that it lone affects definite diligent populations, peculiarly those successful the LGBTQ community. But that is not correct.”
Misinformation astir HIV remains 1 of the astir unsafe barriers to prevention. Many presume the microorganism is uncommon oregon nary longer a nationalist wellness concern.
“HIV is decidedly not gone successful Fresno County,” Dr. Kasper said. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, what we’ve seen successful our session unsocial is that the rates of caller diagnoses person skyrocketed.”
To forestall the spread, Kasper said it starts with 1 important action: Getting tested.
“The sooner you get tested, the amended your chances are of having a agelong and steadfast life,” Dr. Kasper said. “The archetypal measurement is making that prime to get tested.”
Thanks to probe and antiviral medications, radical surviving with HIV tin unrecorded lives astir identical successful magnitude and prime to those without the virus.
“HIV is not a decease sentence,” Dr. Kasper said. “If you get tested, enactment successful care, and enactment connected treatment, your beingness expectancy approaches that of the wide population.”
The Special Services Clinic astatine Community Health System provides confidential support, care, and testing. Dr. Kasper encourages anyone unsure of their presumption oregon who hasn’t been tested successful a portion to travel in.
