McHenry health department offers HIV testing

Submitted by McHenry County Department of Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.1 million Americans are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and about 25 percent are unaware of their infection; 56,000 new infections occur each year.

McHenry County Department of Health is offering free, confidential or anonymous rapid HIV testing for at-risk individuals at McHenry County College on a walk-in basis from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.

The test consists of a small finger-stick blood sample and results are available in less than 20 minutes. Individuals are also assessed for risk factors and provided educational material. Information on sexually transmitted diseases will also be made available for general distribution.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there are 50 people in McHenry County living with HIV; 74 residents have advanced to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome as of Dec. 31, 2010. Ensuring people have the information, motivation and skills necessary to reduce their risk continues to play an important role in preventing the spread of HIV.

The best way to protect yourself is to know your HIV status and that of your partners. Most people change behaviors to protect their partners if they know they are infected with HIV.

It is important that individuals with HIV are linked to ongoing care and prevention services to live longer, healthier lives and reduce their risk of transmitting HIV. People who engage in certain behaviors are at an increased risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Those who may be at risk include men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, people with two or more STDs in the past 12 months, people who exchange sex for something they need, people who average six or more partners a month, or anyone who has had unprotected sex with any of the above.

For details, visit aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics, or for testing by appointment, call MCDH at (815) 334-4500.