HIV, AIDS Cases Rising In Dane County

The number of HIV- AIDS cases is on the rise in Dane County.

According to Dane County Public Health, gay men and African Americans are two segments of the population seeing significant increases in HIV and AIDS, reported WISC-TV.

"Some people may think it's not that big of a deal anymore," said public health program manager Cheryl Robinson.

But that is wrong, according to Robinson.

In 2006, 64 new cases were reported to public health, 28 were gay men, and 13 were African American. The age group of 25-to-44-year-olds made up 51 percent of the cases reported.
"This is a virus," said MATEC site director Marge Sutinen. "It doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, young or old, black or white, rich or poor, all that matters is that you are human and it wants to get in and set up shop with you."

Sutinen works with AIDS clinics across Dane County. She said AIDS is still an epidemic. "When we have 40,000 new cases every year in this country, I still think it's a threat," said Sutinen.

Sutinen said the disease is beginning to affect new segments of the population.

"I'm seeing a lot more younger people than I did in the past," she said.

African Youth Outreach is a local organization that was initially founded to deal with AIDS problems in Africa.

"It's a public health issue that I don't think a lot of people understand," said AYO co-founder Rebecca Kendziorski. "It's over there, somewhere else, but it affects all of us."

AYO is now beginning to focus its efforts locally to help deal with the rising number of cases in the younger population.

"Kids seem to think that no one can hurt them, they are going to live forever," said Kendzioski.

Kendziorski hopes that education will help slow the trend.

To schedule an appointment for a free, anonymous HIV test, call the Madison Public Health Department at 246-4516.