The District of Columbia Department of Health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA) recently released the 2019 Annual HIV/AIDS Epidemiology and Surveillance Report for Washington, DC. Each year, the report is used to inform providers and engage meaningfully with the community. Key points taken from this year's surveillance update include:
- Currently, 12,322 DC residents or 1.8% of the population, are living with HIV.
- There were 360 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2018 representing a 49% decrease from 2011 and 73% from 2007; however, the reduction has slowed to 4% for the most recent three years.
- There were no children born with HIV in 2018.
- For the first time, more than half of the people living with HIV in the district are older than 50 years old.
- The number of new HIV diagnoses due to injection drug use decreased by 94% from 2007.
- This year's report highlights the steady progress on the efforts to End the HIV Epidemic in DC 2020 and reflects the necessity to increase availability, accessibility
and acceptability of HIV prevention services.
DC CFAR Institutional Representatives, Mr. Michael Kharfen (DC Health) and Dr. Sarah Henn (WWH) were interviewed about the report on a recent episode of the Kojo Nnamdi Show. Topics discussed included factors that contribute to HIV rates in DC and the District's approach to ensuring access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care.