New AIDS Cases Down for Second Year in a Row
The number of new AIDS cases in Ventura County has dropped for the second year in a row, but health officials warn that the number of people contracting the HIV virus may be growing, because it usually takes about 10 years for someone who has contracted HIV to come down with AIDS.
“The number of AIDS cases we are seeing now are really just estimates of what people were doing with their lives eight to 10 years ago,” said Susan Attaway, program manager for AIDS education and prevention at the Ventura County Health Department.
She said more young people, Latinos and women are contracting the disease.
So far this year, there are 44 new AIDS cases, down from 48 new cases last year, according to county health officials.
Lynn Bartosh, in charge of AIDS surveillance with Ventura County Public Health, said the numbers have dropped substantially since 1996, when there were 90 new cases reported.
But she cautioned that drug cocktails have delayed the onset of AIDS and county residents need to be vigilant about taking precautions by avoiding risky behavior.
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