KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Every December 1, people locally and around the globe highlight progress made in the battle against the AIDS epidemic and stress the work that still needs to be done. The World AIDS Day theme through 2010 is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise," focusing on the need for national governments and international policymakers to meet commitments made in fighting AIDS.

“HIV and AIDS are killers with a devastating and tragic impact, and we need to stop it locally and globally,” said King County Executive Ron Sims.

An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005, and over 25 million people have already died of AIDS. There are about 40,000 new infections just in the United States each year. In King County, approximately 8,400 persons are currently living with HIV or AIDS, and about a quarter may not yet know they are infected.

“We want all persons to know their HIV status,” said Dr. Bob Wood, HIV/AIDS Program Director for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “All infected persons should be in care programs to monitor their health, get treatment, and prevent further disease transmission.”

Tomorrow, Friday, December 1, local events will commemorate World AIDS Day:

• At Harborview’s Hall Auditorium A from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Madison Clinic’s Community Advisory Board, in collaboration with Public Health - Seattle & King County, is hosting a patient panel discussion on "Living with HIV Today in Seattle." Four patients of the Madison Clinic will tell their stories in finding out that they are HIV positive and how they have managed their care. The presentation will include a brief presentation on the clinic's history, and a hospital chaplain will lead a moment of remembrance. The event is open to all.
  
  
• POCAAN, People of Color Against AIDS Network, is organizing an evening of remembrance, entertainment, food, discussion with expert panelists, and reflection about HIV/AIDS. The event includes community members, activists and leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This event will be 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave South, Seattle, WA 98144.
  
  
• At Consejo Counseling Services, there will be a lecture in Spanish, “Reducing Infections in our Community,” by Dr. Octavio Vallejo, Medical Science Liaison, Gilead Sciences. Childcare will be available. This event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 3808 S. Angeline St., Seattle, WA 98118. The event is free and includes dinner. The co-sponsors are Entre Hermanos, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Consejo, and Gilead Sciences.
  
  
• HIV positive HOPE (HIV Outreach and Prevention Education) representatives from the YWCA’s BABES Network will participate in events at three area high schools and at the University of Washington World AIDS Day Resources Fair.
  
  
• SCAN TV will devote 24-hours of programming on December 1 to AIDS. The programming will include an interview with Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Medical Director of Public Health’s HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Section. Dr. Goldbaum will be discussing both the local and global impacts of HIV and AIDS.

There are things that everyone can do locally to help in the fight against AIDS:

• Know the facts: How HIV is transmitted, what puts people at risk, and the health consequences of infection.
• Support comprehensive sex education for youth who are entering sexually active years.
• Support comprehensive prevention strategies, such as needle exchanges which reduce risks associated with drug use.
• Know your HIV status, share that information with new sexual partners, use condoms, and get tested before starting a sexual relationship that might lead to sex without condoms.

In revised guidelines this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that physicians offer voluntary HIV testing to everybody ages 13 to 64 as part of routine medical exams.

HIV tests are highly accurate. Testing is simple and can be done by all care providers and clinics. It usually requires a simple blood draw, finger stick, or oral fluid specimen, and produces results in a week, or as rapidly as 20 minutes at some testing sites for persons at especially high risk. The FDA may soon approve a home self-test, like pregnancy testing at home.

For information about HIV testing or to make an appointment, call Public Health's HIV/STD Hotline at 206-205-7837 or 800-678-1595 (open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday). Information is also available at: www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/resources/testing.htm

World AIDS Day: www.omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances/world

HIV/AIDS Program at Public Health - Seattle & King County: www.metrokc.gov/health/apu

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