November 22, 2019 — The number of New Yorkers newly diagnosed with HIV is down to historic lows and fell below 2,000 for the first time since annual HIV reporting began in 2001. According to the 2018 HIV Surveillance Annual Report (PDF), 1,917 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in New York City in 2018, down 11% from the 2,157 new diagnoses reported in 2017, and down 67% from 2001.
As part of the NYC Ending the Epidemic Plan, New York City has transformed its eight Sexual Health Clinics, all of which currently offer low- to no-cost state-of-the-art STI and HIV services, including STI and HIV testing, emergency PEP, PrEP initiation and navigation, JumpstART (immediate initiation of HIV treatment with navigation to longer-term care), and counseling services. Anyone age 12 or older can receive services at a Sexual Health Clinic, regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or ability to pay.
Of people receiving HIV medical care in 2018, 87% were virally suppressed (up 81% from 2014). Viral suppression is important because it reduces the amount of virus in a person’s body helping maintain overall health. Additionally, people with HIV who are on treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV through sex. This evidence-based finding is also known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U).
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