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MDHHS encourages residents to get tested during National HIV Testing Day
June 26, 2023
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is encouraging Michiganders to empower themselves and know their HIV status in support of National HIV Testing Day Tuesday, June 27.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and that number grows by nearly 40,000 people each year. The CDC has found that more than 90% of new HIV cases in the United States could be prevented by testing and diagnosing people with HIV, and ensuring they receive prompt, ongoing care and treatment.
“Testing for HIV is simple and quick and can be performed as part of routine health care,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Taking an HIV test is the only way to know if you have the virus, as symptoms may take years to develop. Testing allows you to keep yourself and your partners safe, and if you test positive, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible.”
With proper treatment, those living with HIV can reach an undetectable status. Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U=U) means that a person living with HIV who takes medicine as prescribed can achieve viral suppression with the virus undetectable in their body, which will keep the person healthier and prevent transmission.
Current CDC recommendations call for everyone to be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime as part of routine health care, and people who engage in condomless sex or injection drug use should get tested more often. Sexually active people who test negative for HIV are encouraged to ask their doctor about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that, when taken as prescribed, prevents a person from getting HIV if there is an exposure to the virus.
To learn more about HIV and prevention visit CDC.gov/HIV.
Many resources exist around Michigan to provide free or reduced-cost HIV testing and treatment. To find resources and HIV testing locations, visit Michigan.gov/HIVSTI.
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