May 18, 2013
A record number of people are living with H-I-V and AIDS in Wisconsin.
The state says the growing number of cases is the result of fewer AIDS deaths and an increase in new H-I-V infections. 66 people died of AIDS last year, the fewest since 1986.
417 new H-I-V infections were reported last year, an increase of 15 percent over the year before.
Overall, 5,367 Wisconsinites have been diagnosed with H-I-V according to the state's data.
The number of people living with H-I-V in Wisconsin has increased by 35 percent since 2000.
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin executive Michael Gifford says often the only difference between an infected person living a longer, healthier life and death is access to health care.
Gifford says the number of people with H-I-V has created the highest demand ever for health and social services from state's treatment system.
