Experts examine HIV/AIDS epidemic in Pittsburgh area

        Education, prevention, testing and free health care can end the HIV/​AIDS epidemic in Allegheny County and beyond.

But the troubling news is the 150 new cases of HIV/​AIDS in the county each year, on average, with no signs of decline.

“It’s important to remember that the epidemic is not over and still growing in the United States and around the world,” said Linda Frank, director of the Pennsylvania MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center.

She was one of several HIV/​AIDS experts who discussed the region’s epidemic Monday, during a World AIDS Day Conference at the University of Pittsburgh. Tools to halt the epidemic already exist, they said. But challenges include persuading health care providers to test patients routinely for infection, the stigma and fear that prevents people from being tested, and health insurance concerns if they are diagnosed.

But people can qualify for free care and assistance in managing the infection, officials said. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, particularly those who are young African-Americans, are most seriously affected by HIV.

Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, said people can test themselves for HIV at home. The toothbrush-like device is placed in the mouth between the teeth and cheek for two to five minutes, then sent to a lab for analysis.

The treatments work. The Pittsburgh AIDS Center for Treatment reports that 89 percent of its HIV patients now have undetectable viral loads. But only 30 percent of patients undergo long-term treatment, with 20 percent of the 3,000 people with HIV/​AIDS countywide yet to be diagnosed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 1.2 million people nationwide are living with HIV infection, with 14 percent unaware they have it.

“Still, the pace of new infections continues at far too high a level — particularly among certain groups,” the CDC states, noting 50,000 new infections nationwide each year.

The Monday conference was part of local World AIDS Day events to continue through Sunday.

Testing will be done from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg, with HIV/​AIDS awareness during College Night at Cruze Bar in the Strip District, 8 p.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday. A rally and a march from Carnegie Mellon University to Pitt are scheduled from 8:45 to 11 p.m. Friday with HIV testing available, with “The Pittsburgh Honors Ball: Galaxy” to be held at the Wyndham Hotel in Oakland from 8 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday. Testing will be available at Destiny of Faith in Brighton Heights, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.