  
March 10, 2008
HIV/AIDS A Small But Growing Concern in North Dakota
Though North Dakota has consistently ranked lowest in the country in terms of the number of its HIV/AIDS cases, attention still must be paid to reducing infections in the state, says a report in The Bismarck Tribune (bismarcktribune.com, 3/9).
According to the article, there are about 167 people known to be living with HIV or AIDS in the state. Most new infections reported in 2006 were among men who have sex with men. New statistics for 2007 are expected to show an increase in infections through heterosexual sex.
The Tribune reports that about 20 to 25 people are diagnosed with HIV each year in North Dakota, but according to Krissie Mayer, the state’s Ryan White program manager, fear of disclosure might be masking the true figures—figures that may indicate a higher rate of HIV infection than is currently known.
“[North Dakota is] a consistently conservative state,” Mayer says. “Part of what we suspect is the numbers are higher. There is a stigma still [around HIV].”
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