The number of new HIV cases in Washington, DC, fell 33.2 percent between 2004 and 2008, according to the 2009 epidemiology update from the city’s HIV/AIDS Administration, The Washington Post reports.

“For the first time,” the report says, “we can report that there is a decline in new AIDS cases in the District of Columbia.”

This is especially good news for the district, which is in the midst of an AIDS crisis. It’s estimated that nearly 3 percent of residents in the nation’s capital are HIV positive—a rate that’s on par with Uganda and Kenya.

According to the new data, there was also a 9 percent decrease in AIDS diagnoses and a 20 percent drop in those who test positive and progress to AIDS within a year. The number of AIDS-related deaths fell by 28 percent.

In addition, Shannon L. Hader, chief of the HIV/AIDS Administration, said there was significant progress in getting people on treatment early. Specifically, the report showed a 36.1 percent increase in those seeking medical care within three months of testing HIV positive.

While the report noted the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was up 9.2 percent from 2007, it cited expanded HIV testing and complete reporting as a result of the names-based HIV reporting system for the increase.