If Iowa’s HIV incidence from the first half of 2009 continued for the rest of the year, the state could experience one of its largest single-year HIV infection increases, according to the Iowa Department of Health and reported on by The Iowa Independent.

In the first half of 2009, there were 70 new HIV cases—17 more than the average for the first halves of the years from 2004 to 2008. In addition, there were 46 AIDS diagnoses in the first half of 2009—seven more than the state’s average from the previous five years.

Iowa’s HIV/AIDS surveillance coordinator Jerry Harms told state officials in a memo that a complete report for 2009 should be available in March.

As of June 30, 2009, a total of 2,147 Iowans were known to be HIV positive.