Spring Break
HIV Cases On The Increase
Emelin Sosa
Issue date: 3/17/06 Section: News
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of young people under the age of 25 infected with HIV has increased from 3.9 percent in 1999 to 4.7 percent in 2003. People this young are estimated to make up one-half of the 40,000 new HIV infections reported each year in the United States.
A New England Journal of Medicine study conducted at several universities estimates that one in 500 college students is infected with HIV.
According to Michael Kurland, director of Student Health Services, unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol and other drugs puts college students at higher risk for HIV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases.
"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can increase the risk of acquiring HIV," Kurland said. "We especially see a number of students come into our offices to be tested for STDs right after spring break."
Student Health Services offers pre-test and post-test counseling sessions and the testing is done on a confidential basis, meaning the test results are documented in the student's medical record but information may not be released to anyone without written permission. Health Services offers both the oral fluid (Orasure) and conventional blood tests with results generally available within a few days to two weeks.
An alternative free anonymous rapid HIV/AIDS testing is provided by the Rainbow Center the first Wednesday and third Thursday of every month. The rapid HIV test can provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
"Students might feel more comfortable doing the anonymous testing because it offers complete anonymity and is open to the entire community, not just to UConn students," said Stephanie Marnin, director of the Rainbow Center.
It can sometimes take as long as three to six months for antibodies that fight the disease to reach detectable levels, so it is recommended to get tested even six months after the last possible exposure to HIV, according to CDC.
A New England Journal of Medicine study conducted at several universities estimates that one in 500 college students is infected with HIV.
According to Michael Kurland, director of Student Health Services, unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol and other drugs puts college students at higher risk for HIV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases.
"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can increase the risk of acquiring HIV," Kurland said. "We especially see a number of students come into our offices to be tested for STDs right after spring break."
Student Health Services offers pre-test and post-test counseling sessions and the testing is done on a confidential basis, meaning the test results are documented in the student's medical record but information may not be released to anyone without written permission. Health Services offers both the oral fluid (Orasure) and conventional blood tests with results generally available within a few days to two weeks.
An alternative free anonymous rapid HIV/AIDS testing is provided by the Rainbow Center the first Wednesday and third Thursday of every month. The rapid HIV test can provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
"Students might feel more comfortable doing the anonymous testing because it offers complete anonymity and is open to the entire community, not just to UConn students," said Stephanie Marnin, director of the Rainbow Center.
It can sometimes take as long as three to six months for antibodies that fight the disease to reach detectable levels, so it is recommended to get tested even six months after the last possible exposure to HIV, according to CDC.