TODAY IS NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY

HIV/AIDS: Experts See Rising Trend Of Older Population With HIV-Positive Cases

HIV has been pulsing through our society for a quarter century, and
it's not showing any signs of slowing down, experts say.

One surging new population of HIV-positive cases is people older than
50, data show. "Persons of this age group generally do not know much
about HIV because it was not a factor when they were growing up,"
said Paula French, co-director of Step-Up Inc., an Indianapolis
agency catering to people older than 50 with HIV/AIDS.

"Now that they are past the childbearing years, they assume they are
safe," she said.

"Also, most have been married or in long-term relationships and have
not had to consider these issues in many years."

Tony Gillespie, director of Brothers Uplifting Brothers Inc. in
Merrillville, which offers confidential HIV testing, said his staff
also is noticing this as an increasing trend.

His agency used to provide specific HIV education and testing for
people 50 and older until state and federal funding ran out, he said.

Tammy Morris, executive director of the Aliveness Project of
Northwest Indiana, a Merrillville-based HIV/AIDS support group, said
her program tries to pair newly diagnosed clients with some of their
longtime survivors, to help show that HIV is a liveable disease.

Morris' agency has noticed the increase in senior outbreaks, due in
part, she said, to seniors' longer life spans and a reluctance to
talk about sex and protection.

"How are you going to educate a 65-year-old on how to use a condom?" she said.

Bob Pitman, chairman of the National Institute of Senior Centers,
said many centers in south suburban Illinois communities also are
beginning to address this trend as a newfound priority.

Typically, the rate of people older than 50 who get HIV hovers
between 5 percent to 10 percent, data show. However, many
HIV-positive clients are living longer due to new cutting-edge
medications and treatments.

Today, National HIV Testing Day, is an annual campaign to encourage
at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV testing and counseling,
sponsored by several local agencies and the Indiana State Department of Health.

Historically, Lake County has had the second-highest rate of HIV/AIDS
in Indiana.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that
approximately one-third of all people who are infected with HIV are
unaware of it, an estimated 250,000 people.

Indiana, which ranks 23 in the country in HIV or AIDS cases, has as
many as 1,000 Hoosiers who fit this profile, according to the CDC.

French's Step-Up Inc. agency boasts a rare program, Indiana Seniors
HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, or In-Shape, targeting people older
than 50 with HIV.

"Due to divorce and widowhood, these individuals are dating again and
are not familiar with the behaviors that put them at risk," she said.

Times Staff Writer Christine Kraly contributed to this
report

[Sidebars]

Are you positive you're negative? Do you know that an estimated
250,000 Americans have HIV and don't even know it? Testing for HIV
takes a few minutes and results are typically available in two weeks,
although a few local sites have Rapid HIV Antibody testing available.
Both confidential and anonymous tests are available. Information on
testing sites around the state, including hours and types of tests,
can be found by visiting www.hivtest.org.

For more information on local confidential HIV testing, contact
Brothers Uplifting Brothers at (219) 985-2008, e-mail
TGillespie@imhc.org or visit www.bubnwi.org, or The Aliveness Project
of NWI at (800) 293-7312, or the South Suburban HIV/AIDS Regional
Coalition at (708) 753-5835.

Factors Affecting The 50 And Older HIV-Positive Population

* Multiple partners: Since women generally live longer than men,
there may be several women having sex with the same male partner over time.

* Comfort level: Because of the era in which these individuals grew
up, they are often uncomfortable discussing sex and/or past partners
with their new dates. Many have never negotiated safer sex measures
or know how to use a condom, and so on.

* Viagra-type medications: With the availability of these
medications, men are able to be sexually active throughout their later years.

* Needle sharing: Some older adults may think it is OK to share
needles for injecting insulin or other prescription drugs as a
cost-cutting measure. They also may not share information with their
new partners about their past substance use/abuse that may have put
them at risk for HIV and/or hepatitis.

* Medical issues: Symptoms for HIV disease often mirror symptoms of
aging. The physician may stereotype her/his older patients and assume
that they are not having sex or sharing needles and therefore does
not offer an HIV test. Also, as women age they may experience vaginal
dryness, thus making it more likely for tearing during intercourse.

* HIV counseling/testing: Older individuals are seldom tested for HIV.

Therefore, they may unknowingly put their partners at risk. They also
may not be receiving treatment due to not being diagnosed.

Source: Step-Up Inc.

Illinois Governor Signs Bill Requiring HIV Tests For Newborns

Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week signed legislation that requires HIV
testing for every newborn baby in the state when the status of the
mother is unknown. Opponents argue testing newborns could divulge
women's HIV status against their will. But some doctors contend
immediate drug treatment for a newborn exposed to HIV may prevent the
child from becoming infected.

New HIV Drug Approved

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new
treatment drug for HIV called Prezista, the first new HIV drug
approved this past year. The drug, known as darunavir, is a member of
the protease inhibitor class, which works to block protease, a
protein the virus needs to replicate itself. Since 1995, the FDA has
approved 10 other such drugs.

HIV/AIDS Numbers Down In Illinois

Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, announced the
Illinois 2005 HIV/AIDS statistics. In 2005, the number of reported
AIDS cases declined by 3 percent from 1,410 in 2004 to 1,366 in 2005.
Illinois also saw a decrease of new infections in 2005 from the previous year.