WYOMING — The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) announced Monday that increasing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the state stress the need for increased testing and prevention strategies.
According to Communicable Disease Unit (CDU) Surveillance Program Manager Reginald McClinton, 22 cases were reported in 2023, an increase from 13 in 2022 and higher than Wyoming’s typical annual range of 12 to 15. Among reported cases, 82 percent were male and 18 percent were female, and 36 percent identified as heterosexual and 64 percent identified as LGBTQ, with ages ranging from 24 to 77 years.
“This is a noteworthy increase and cause for concern,” McClinton said via press release.
According to Katelyn Hoff, epidemiologist and disease intervention specialist with WDH, “Almost half of Wyoming individuals diagnosed in 2023 had already reached later stages of infection. This indicates potential missed opportunities to be diagnosed and start treatment earlier.”
Hoff noted the sooner treatment is started, the better the patient outcome. “While there is no cure for HIV, it can be managed with HIV treatment,” she said via press release.
HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. HIV infections advance in stages, getting worse over time without treatment. HIV can ultimately cause what is commonly known as AIDS.
“Unfortunately there has been a pervasive myth in Wyoming that HIV only infects men who identify as gay,” WDH Communicable Disease Prevention Program Manager Leslie Fowler said via press release. “This has led to a lack of HIV testing, which results in poor patient outcomes and ongoing HIV transmission in the population.”
HIV treatment involves taking medicine as prescribed by a healthcare provider. Antiretroviral therapy reduces the amount of HIV in the body and helps people living with HIV to stay healthy and not pass the virus on to others, according to the WHD.
“HIV treatment can make the viral load so low a test can’t detect it. You’ll see references to ‘U=U’ or ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ that refer to someone living with HIV with an undetectable status for at least six months,” Hoff shared. “People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot effectively transmit HIV to their sexual partners as long as they continue to take HIV medication as prescribed and continue to see the doctor treating their HIV.”
Fowler said many infected people never notice symptoms.
“The only way to know for sure is to get tested,” Fowler said. “The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can take steps to protect your health. We recommend sexually active individuals get tested for HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea and chlamydia testing at all sites of sexual contact annually as well as two weeks after each partner or exposure or every one to three months for frequent partners or exposures.”
HIV and STI prevention strategies include:
- Abstain from all types of sexual contact
- Get tested before starting a sexual relationship or resuming a sexual relationship with a previous partner
- Before sexual contact, asking potential sexual partners if they have been tested since their last sexual partner
- Limit the number of sexual partners
- Choose lower risk types of sexual contact
- Consistent and correct condom use with all types of sexual contact. There are a variety of condoms sizes, shapes and materials that can overcome challenges with fit, comfort and allergies
- Get routine testing for HIV and other STIs
- If injecting or snorting substances, never share needles or other equipment
WDH also recommends Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. PrEP is a daily pill that significantly decreases the chance of HIV infection in those at high risk. More information on PrEP can be found here.
Another option known as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) involves medication to prevent developing HIV after an exposure to HIV. PEP must be started within 72 hours of the exposure and taken for 28 days.
To find free KnoWyo condom locations or in person and at-home testing options go to www.KnoWyo.org. The site also offers information about maintaining an undetectable HIV status and support.
