World AIDS Day 2007

Getting tested for HIV remains an important part of preventing the spread of HIV, both in the United States and worldwide. People who know they are HIV infected can fully benefit from available life-saving treatments. They can also take steps to protect their partners and protect their community. Being tested for HIV also is important since unrecognized HIV infections account for more than half of all new sexually transmitted HIV infections each year.

In the United States: CDC recommends that adults and adolescents between the ages of 13– 64 years be routinely screened for HIV infection in all healthcare settings. Pregnant women in the US should be screened for HIV infection as part of the routine panel of prenatal tests. To find a HIV testing site center near you, visit HIVtest.org or, on your cell phone, text your zip code to Know It – 566948.

Around the World: For World AIDS Day, CDC is releasing a critical new HIV testing and counseling tool, the Couples HIV Counseling and Testing (CHCT) Intervention and Training Curriculum. For more information, visit the CDC.gov Global AIDS feature.

What Can You Do?

Whether you lead a large company, work as a health professional, or attend high school, you can join CDC and its partners in supporting World AIDS Day and working to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic, both here in the United States and around the world.

Individuals can:

• Become a volunteer for a local HIV/AIDS organization

• Confront stigma, racism and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS

• Get tested for HIV

• Make a personal commitment to protect their partners and encourage others to do the same

• Send a Health-e-Card

Organizations are encouraged to:

• Promote World AIDS Day in their own organization by using promotional materials available at www.hivtest.org

• Support employees and volunteers to get involved in World AIDS Day activities

• Develop HIV/AIDS policies for their workplaces

• Educate staff/workers about HIV/AIDS

World AIDS Day Resources

• World AIDS Day Observance Materials Available
  Health communication materials and tools available for personal and professional Web sites and World AIDS Day events
• AIDS.gov Webinar
  Featuring Dr. Kevin Fenton from CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Dr. Deborah Parham from HRSA, Beverly Watts Davis from SAMHSA, and Dr. Anthony Fauci from NIH.
• World AIDS Day — December 1, 2007, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) ( 309KB)

Additional Resources from CDC

• Rapid HIV Testing in Outreach and Community Settings — United States, 2004–2006, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Discussion with Dr. Kevin Fenton on HIV Testing, A Cup of Health (podcast)
• Rapid HIV Testing, A Minute of Health (podcast)
• CDC HIV Testing Database
  Locate an HIV testing site near you
• CDC HIV/AIDS
  CDC’s Web site for HIV/AIDS in the United States
• CDC Global HIV/AIDS
  CDC’s Global AIDS Program
• CDC Business and Labor Responds to AIDS
  CDC’s HIV/AIDS resource for businesses and labor organizations
• CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
  The U.S. reference, referral, and distribution service for information on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB)