Burlington, Vt. - Vermont's Commissioner of Health wants you to get tested for HIV. It is part of a new campaign by the State to prevent the spread of the disease.
The name of the campaign is "11 years". Commissioner Harry Chen says that is how long a person can be infected with HIV before showing outward symptoms of AIDs.
"It's time that HIV testing be considered part of routine healthcare," Chen said.
Chen and State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso were both tested in front of a room full of media Tuesday afternoon to show how quick and easy it is.
The team suggests people ages 13 to 63 be tested. And, that people at high risk of HIV be screened once a year. The cost of an oral test is about $12.
"People can get tested at their own providers office. Or, at any of 30 or so anonymous testing sites around the State," Kelso said.
Chen says only about 600 people are infected with HIV in Vermont right now. But, there are roughly 100 people in the State who are infected and do not even know it.
The campaign comes on the heels of a national movement by the Centers for Disease Control to provide free HIV tests at drugstores around the country.
"So, finding everybody who's infected, getting them into care to keep their viral loads low so that the likelihood that they'll transmit it to others is reduced, and just knowing their status, hopefully they'll take precautions to protect people that their in relationships with," Kelso said.
For a list of secure testing sites in our area, click here.
