On June 27, people can walk-in between 1:00 and 3:30 pm at the Fredericksburg Health Department for STI testing.
There is encouraging news about HIV infections in the United States. Between 2017 and 2021, estimated new HIV infections nationwide have fallen by 12%, from 36,000 in 2017 to 32,000 in 2021.
National numbers, however, fail to tell the full story of infections, which vary widely by region.
In Virginia, HIV Prevalence — the total number of HIV cases existing in the commonwealth divided by the total population — is 334 out of ever 100,000 people, according to AIDSvu. This rate places the state in the middle of the pack nationwide.
Zoom in a bit more to the county level, and the variance in the disease’s impact comes into focus. Stafford’s prevalence rate is 188/100,000; Spotsylvania sits at 198/100,00; and Fredericksburg is the highest in our area with 448/100,000.
So while the fight against AIDS is proving effective, there is work to do. And that work begins with getting tested.
Walk-in STI Testing for National HIV Testing Day
The rate of new HIV infections in the Rappahannock Area Health District has risen over the past year. In 2022 there were 28 new cases reported. In 2023, that number had risen to 34, according to information from the Rappahannock Area Health District.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you carry the HIV virus. To encourage people to get tested, RAHD is offering testing for sexually transmitted infections on a walk-in basis at the Fredericksburg Health Department (608 Jackson Street in Fredericksburg) from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm on National HIV Testing Day — June 27.
RAHD stated in a press release that “testing is confidential.” Further, “Follow up appointments will be available for anyone needing treatment.”
The organization will also be providing information about “ongoing protection from HIV through pre-exposure prophylaxis.”
In addition to HIV testing, people will be offered screening for other STIs, including syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Cases of Chlamydia have surged in the United States over recent years.
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