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Departments
Health and Human Services
Bucks County Health Department
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Bureau of Personal Health
HIV/AIDS Statistics and Surveillance
Timely and accurate HIV and AIDS case reporting provides a better understanding of the epidemic on local levels. Epidemiologists can monitor trends in populations being affected by HIV infection; project future numbers of cases and provide information for those responsible for planning for future health care needs, prevention and educational activities.
Failure to report in a timely manner may have an impact on current and projected funding needs. Funding formulas using data that represents under-reporting of HIV or AIDS cases may translate into under-funded programs and services for those with HIV infection. Collecting information about HIV will help us to get a better understanding of HIV in our state. We need to know if people with HIV are getting the care they need. HIV information is also used to obtain funds for HIV prevention and treatment services.
1981—Confidential name-based AIDS case reporting began in Pennsylvania
2002—Confidential name-based HIV case reporting began in Pennsylvania
Please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology website for general HIV/AIDS statistical summaries www.health.state.pa.us/hiv-epi/ |
Understanding HIV/AIDS Surveillance
Surveillance Definitions
- AIDS: This refers to persons diagnosed with AIDS, based on the CDC definition in adults and adolescents and children.
- HIV/AIDS: This refers to cases of HIV infection, regardless whether they have progressed to AIDS from the 37 areas (33 states and 4 U.S. dependent areas) that have had confidential name-based HIV infection reporting long enough to monitor trends. These 33 states represent approximately 63% of the epidemic in the United States.
- Dependent Areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- 33 States and 4 Dependent Areas with Confidential Name-Based HIV Infection Reporting: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- As of October 2005, a total of 38 states conducted name-based HIV/AIDS reporting that met CDC standards, and additional states have initiated procedures to adopt name-based HIV-infection reporting beginning in 2006. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Transmission Category: The classification of a case that summarizes the risk factor most likely to have been responsible for transmission. Cases are counted only once in a hierarchy of transmission categories. Persons with more than 1 reported risk factor for HIV infection are classified in the transmission category listed first in the hierarchy. The exception is men who report sexual contact with other men and injection drug use; this group makes up a separate transmission category.
For more information about HIV/AIDS Surveillance, contact:
Kim Thomas, HIV Surveillance Nurse
Email: kmthomas@co.bucks.pa.us
7321 New Falls Rd.
Levittown, PA 19055
Phone: 215-949-5805
Fax: 215-949-5819
Sharita Washington, HIV Project Coordinator
Email: sswashington@co.bucks.pa.us
1282 Almshouse Rd
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-345-3835
Fax: 215-345-3833
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