Private MD News

CDC leads effort to make HIV testing more accessible

Category: HIV

In an effort to curb the spread of sexually transmitted disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently working to increase HIV testing rates in areas where the disease is most prevalent by making testing more accessible.

The Houston area is one of the locations that will see more HIV testing. According to the Houston Chronicle, the CDC will begin offering the procedure to individuals seeking regular preventative care.

The location has more than twice the HIV infection rate of the rest of the country. Officials hope that by making testing more available, identification of infected individuals will rise, which could have a positive impact on the chronically high infection rates.

Officials told the news source that the problem of HIV has become a major public health issue and that the more HIV testing that is offered, the better everyone's health will be.

The CDC has said that HIV testing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the deadly illness. While more than 1 million people are infected, as many as a quarter of these individuals are unaware of their condition and may continue to spread the infection.