- Nightlife hotspot Ocean Drive’s annual new HIV infection rate is more than four times the national average
- Experts are urging states to step up preventative measures, including testing, treating infected people and supporting preventive treatment for people at risk.
Ocean Drive, Miami Beach’s nightlife hotspot, has become a hub for HIV infections.
Luxury hotels and luxurious nightclubs draw thousands of people to the 33139 Florida zip code each year.
However, new 2021 data released by AIDSvu shows the region’s annual new HIV infection rate is more than four times the national average. The Sun Sentinel reports.
Florida includes six metropolitan areas with the highest rates of new infections in the United States: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville, and HIV infection rates continue to rise.
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties also rank in the top 5% of U.S. counties for infection rates.
Miami Beach nightlife hotspot Ocean Drive becomes center of HIV infection
Experts say Florida needs to use a three-pronged approach to tackle the HIV epidemic, including ramping up testing
Wilton Manors, Overtown and Doral also have high rates of new diagnoses.
“The situation doesn’t seem to be getting better,” says Dr. Mario Stevenson, an infectious disease expert and HIV researcher at the University of Miami.
“The problem has become white noise. Many people come to the area to party, but they are not aware of the risks of HIV.
“It’s really important to get the message out to let people know about the risks,” he explained.
Stevenson warned that health messages aren’t reaching enough Hispanics.
“Some messages distributed to raise HIV awareness don’t get across very well,” he added.
“It’s not culturally tailored to resonate with vulnerable communities of color.”
Experts say Florida needs to take a three-pronged approach to tackling the HIV epidemic: identifying people with HIV, getting them treated, and ensuring those who are uninfected but at risk receive preventive treatment. Says.
Dr. Marcus Conant, one of the nation’s first experts to treat AIDS patients in San Francisco, said, “We need to do all three things at the same time to stop the epidemic.”
Luxury hotels and luxurious nightclubs draw thousands of people to the Ocean Drive zip code each year.
Florida is focusing on preventive measures such as PrEP (pharmaceutical therapy), which when taken by at-risk people to prevent HIV infection, can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
There is also a wealth of research being conducted as the number of people infected with HIV increases in Florida.
Among them is the University of Miami’s new CONNECT mobile unit, which will reach zip codes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties that have high rates of HIV infection.
The aim is to involve more diverse patient groups in research, including studies to determine the impact of chronic conditions such as heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders on people living with HIV.
“CONNECT helps our most vulnerable communities benefit from the latest scientific advances by making research more accessible and inclusive.” Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Dr. Maria Alakaide told the Sun Sentinel.
Although HIV can be suppressed with antiretroviral therapy, there is still no cure.
For now, people with HIV must take medication for the rest of their lives to suppress viral levels. But clinical trials are underway across South Florida to study new treatments and potential vaccines.