Question

In March 2015, the southeastern city of Austin, Indiana, reported nearly daily increases in new HIV infections related to intravenous drug use, prompting health officials to track Austin community members’ hepatitis C and HIV rates. Indiana state health officials reported that the number of HIV positive tests rose to 142 in Austin in 2015, in stark contrast to just three new HIV cases between 2009 and 2013. The new number of 142 cases included 136 confirmed cases and six preliminary positives.

Imagine that you are the public health nurse charged with communicating to the public and press the meaning of HIV incidence and prevalence rates in Austin, Indiana. Using the figures cited above (i.e., 142 cases in 2015 and three cases between 2009 and 2013), explain HIV incidence and prevalence in Austin.

***This is all I have not sure how to answer***

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6416a4.htm

Answer:

Answer 1

As we all know HIV is a life threatening disease and state health department along with other public health system has always tried to keep a check on the epidemiology of disease. Medical personnels are working on increasing more and more awareness about the disease and ways to prevent HIV infection.

All the efforts from our healthcare services have keep a check on HIV and as a result we saw only 3 cases of HIV in between 2009 - 2013. But the recent data collection has shown a mark increase in HIV positive cases. This is a very critical situation and needs some serious measures.

Our data shows 142 positive cases of HIV in 2015 out which 136 are confirmed cases and 6 preliminary positive. This rise in number is mainly due to increased number of drug abusers. Using contaminated syringe for i.v.drug abuse is the main reason for HIV infection.

I would like to appeal to people to stay calm in this situation and take utmost care of taking all preventable steps for this dreaded disease.