December 1 is World Aids Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the AIDS pandemic and the spread of HIV infection. More importantly, it’s a day to encourage people to get tested.

In recognition of World Aids Day, here’s an overview of HIV in Washington State gathered by the Washington State Department of Health.

Washington State DOH’s HIV Assessment staff work with local health departments, health care providers, and laboratories to collect HIV case report information. This information is presented in quarterly surveillance reports. These reports provide information about people infected with HIV and help to guide program planning and distribution of resources.

Identifying and reporting new HIV cases helps state and local health departments develop programs that reduce the spread of HIV. Case reporting also helps assure that people living with HIV receive treatment as early as possible, and that partners who have been exposed to the virus receive HIV testing.

- In Washington State, the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in 1982. Since that date, 5,202 people have died from HIV/AIDS in Washington State.
- Recently, the number of new HIV cases in Washington has been about the same each year. Between 2006 and 2010, new HIV cases averaged 560 per year.
- Treatment for HIV disease is both effective and widely available. Most people with HIV survive long after diagnosis.
- Nearly 11,000 people in Washington have been diagnosed and are reported to be living with HIV disease. This number increases about 5 percent each year. About one in six people with HIV has not been diagnosed.
- In King County alone, there were 311 diagnosed cases of the HIV disease in 2010.
- 84 percent of all people in Washington State diagnosed with HIV were males.
- HIV diagnoses are most common in people ages 30 through 39.

If these statistics say anything, it's to engage in safe sex and get tested.

Please visit the following Seattle locations to get tested or receive information regarding HIV/AIDS care:

Public Health STD Clinic
908 Jefferson St, 11th Floor
Phone: 206-744-3590

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest
2001 E. Madison St.
Phone: 1-800-230-7526

Swedish/Ballard
5350 Tallman Ave NW Ste 301

Center for MultiCultural Health
1120 E. Terrace St., Suite 200
Phone: 206-461-6910

Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
3808 S Angeline St
Phone: 206-461-4880

Gay City Health Project
511 E Pike St.
Phone: 206-860-6969

Lifelong AIDS Alliance
1002 E. Seneca St.
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-328-8979

POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS Network)
1609 19th Ave.
Phone: 206-322-7061

Seattle Counseling Service / Project NEON
1216 Pine St.
Phone: 206-328-1768

Visit the Department of Health website at http://www.doh.wa.gov/ for more information.