Report: Minn. HIV/AIDS cases jump among drug abusers, minorities

While Minnesota's count of 2015 HIV/AIDS diagnoses stayed about the same as 2014, new data show a worrisome shift in the portrait of those infected, including more needle drug abusers and African-born women.

There were 294 newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in 2015, compared with 306 in 2014. However, the number of cases among injection drug users rose 86 percent, with 26 new cases in 2015 compared to 14 cases in 2014, the Minnesota Health Department said Wednesday as it released the data.

Fifty-eight percent of newly reported HIV cases were people of color. Among females, more than half of all new cases were African-born, the department added.

"We are seeing higher HIV infection rates in communities with limited access to HIV testing and prevention programs due to longstanding social, medical or income disadvantages," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said in a statement. "We can reduce these rates by improving access to services through expanded partnerships for HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care within these communities."

A total of 11,007 cases have been reported to MDH since the epidemic began in the state in 1982. An estimated 8,215 people in Minnesota are living with HIV/AIDS.

The Health Department report also found:

• In 2015, there were 86 cases of newly reported HIV among foreign-born persons in Minnesota, representing nearly three out of five of all new cases and up from 73 cases in 2014. The majority of foreign born cases in 2015 were from Africa.

• In 2015 the number of new cases among African-born women was 36, accounting for 54 percent of all new diagnoses among women.

• HIV cases among 20- to 29-year-olds rose by 24 percent, with 108 new cases reported in 2015 compared to 87 cases in 2014. Cases were concentrated in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Higher rates occurred among communities of color and men who have sex with men.

• Cases involving needle drug users occurred more often with white males between the ages of 20 and 39, Twin Cities metropolitan residents and men who have sex with men.

Health officials noted that HIV infection remains highly preventable if people take precautions, including correctly using condoms, limiting the number of sexual partners and avoiding the sharing of needles or equipment to tattoo, body pierce or inject drugs.

For those at substantial risk of getting HIV, a daily prevention pill is now available by prescription from a health care provider, the department noted.

For those diagnosed with HIV infection, Ehlinger emphasized that getting into treatment can drastically reduce the spread of HIV. "Reducing the number of new HIV infections is a key public health goal, and sexually active individuals and people who inject drugs can help by getting tested and knowing their status," he added.