A surprising new report warns the AIDS virus is taking hold here in the Deep South.
Monday, the Southern AIDS Coalition released new statistics, showing the potentially deadly virus is affecting poor people in rural areas, especially minorities ages 20-24.
The "Southern States Manifesto: Update 2008" warns AIDS and HIV are creating a health disaster in the South.
According to the report, the South is the only region in the country where AIDS related deaths are increasing instead of decreasing.
45% of all new HIV infections are found in people living in the South.
40% of all AIDS patients - existing cases and new ones - live in the South.
AIDS isn't a big city disease anymore, warns Kathie Hiers, a member of SAC's Board of Directors and CEO of AIDS Alabama:
"Here in Alabama, we have 2 -3 new infections everyday and one of those is a young person everyday," she says.
New cases are often found in minorities - especially young African Americans.
"African American women are 83% of all {new} cases that we can document. And the new epidemic is young people. They're between 22-24," warns Dr. Bambi Gaddist, who serves on SAC's Board of Directors as well as the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council.
SAC experts have several solutions:
More HIV/AIDS prevention education within schools, better healthcare for HIV/AIDS patients plus erasing the negative stigma of AIDS. The goal would be to have every sexually active person tested for HIV and AIDS.
"People in the South will die for lack of a simple test that can cost under 8 dollars to provide so we must work together to provide early screening," warns Evelyn Foust.
Foust serves on SAC's Board of Directors as and works as a disease expert with the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
"We're staying away from the real issue," warns Pastor Michael Jordan of New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham.
The real issue - according to Jordan - is a lack of morals and Christian living.
"I don't think spending millions researching AIDS is going to stop it. I think telling people that your lifestyle and behavior is wrong will help it out," recommends Jordan.
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