LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Health officials in Kentucky’s largest city say an increase in HIV cases has led the agency to offer more screening and prevention measures.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Welfare also on Thursday urged local health care providers to begin testing for HIV as a regular part of health care.
There have been 126 people diagnosed with HIV in the first five months of 2021, Louisville health officials said in a statement. Twenty-four of those cases were diagnosed in May, which is the most recent data available, officials said. The average annual case from 2017 to 2020 was 144.
“We urge all sexually active people to get tested for HIV and ask doctors to include HIV screening as part of regular care,” said Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, associate medical director of the Department of Health Public and Welfare.
Health officials said preventive measures include routine testing, safe sex and not sharing needles or other drug injection equipment.