This shouldn’t be happening. Yet despite increased awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS, Idaho’s numbers are rising — along with other sexually transmitted illnesses — in both men and women. We know how to prevent STIs; we simply aren’t. We can easily test for it (free today at NIAC), yet most don’t. Nor are we encouraged to by most healthcare providers, who are in the best position to do so.

Unpleasant though the subject may be, the consequences are far too serious to brush aside. That’s what World AIDS Day hopes to change.

After a 50 percent drop in Idaho’s new HIV cases a few years ago, the trend skyrocketed again last year for this fully preventable, potentially fatal disease.

“In 2013 Idaho had 27 new HIV cases,” said Stacie Lechot, director of North Idaho AIDS Coalition. “In 2014 we had 13; in 2015 we had 30 new cases, and by the third quarter of 2016 we had 36 new cases of HIV diagnosed. That’s a total of 106 new cases in the past four years.”

Lechot said vulnerability has increased, and people are slipping through the public safety net. “People” include both men and women, from teens to the aged, as well as heterosexuals. Every nine minutes, an American is newly diagnosed.

North Idaho has not traditionally been seen as a “high disease burden area;” however, epidemics of non-prescription opioid addiction and other drug use has become a serious concern, especially with shared needles.

“Communities that are being affected are not typical of those affected historically by injection drug use. The CDC conducted an assessment to identify highest risk counties, and Mineral County, Montana — adjacent to Idaho — was ranked as one of the vulnerable counties,” explained Lechot, who added that drug-linked HIV infection is often coincident with Hepatitis C diagnoses.

HIV/AIDS is not all that’s rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s 2015 report, totals for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are at the highest levels ever seen. People infected with STIs are at increased risk for HIV.

“Someone who tests positive for an STI should get an HIV test. They are at risk, yet HIV tests are not what individuals are offered when they come in for other testing. We need to add (routine) HIV testing to the STI screenings,” she said.

Youths are especially vulnerable. Americans aged 15 to 24 account for two-thirds of chlamydia and half of gonorrhea diagnoses. While male-to-male contact remains the highest risk group for HIV/AIDS, heterosexual contact accounts for 24 percent of the new diagnoses annually, and 87 percent of new diagnoses among women. Use of condoms could prevent that.

Someone with HIV may not show any symptoms for up to 10 years; HIV-positive people may look and feel healthy. The only sure way to know is to get tested. Rapid testing is available free (provided jointly with Panhandle Health District) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at NIAC’s office at 2201 Government Way, Suite E in Coeur d’Alene. Just walk in; results take 20 minutes.

Early diagnosis allows early treatment, which can prolong health and prevent further spreading. Thanks to medical advancements, an HIV diagnosis no longer need be a death sentence.

“Medications, combined with lifestyle changes and complementary therapies that support the body’s ability to keep the virus in check, can keep an HIV-infected person from developing AIDS, or the fatal complications associated with it, for many years or even a lifetime,” said Lechot. “We need to normalize screening with providers.”

Having an open, frank dialogue about STIs and their prevention, she said, is key.

“The stigma is killing us. The stigma is what stops providers from talking about sexual health and the importance of testing and the stigma is stopping the important connection to care.”

NIAC always provides free, confidential testing by appointment, as well as care, support, and advocacy in Idaho’s 10 northern counties. For more information, see Northidahoaidscoalition.org or call (208) 665-1448.

•••

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.