Mas

By: Luz Peña/MÁS staff

In Kern County, Hispanics are the second largest ethnicity who have AIDS and HIV.
 
More than 31 percent — or 529 of the 1702 of all the AIDS cases here in Kern County — are Hispanic. The leading ethnic group with AIDS is Caucasian.

As for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, 239 out of the 718 reported cases — or 33 percent — are Hispanic.

Dave Martin of the Kern County Department of Public Health, said AIDS and HIV are running rampant in the Hispanic community, not because of lack of knowledge, but by not taking the proper precautions to prevent the disease.

“Everyone knows what AIDS and HIV is now. It’s not like in the ‘80s,” Martin said. “They’re just not protecting themselves when they’re having sex. Some think just because their partner looks healthy, everything is OK, but that’s not the case.”

AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) where the body’s immune system is weakened and can’t repair or heal itself. Although the use of antiretroviral medicines can prolong the life of someone who has HIV or AIDS, there’s still no cure.

“If you get infected, there’s not cure,” said Martin. “Yes, there’s antiretroviral therapy to help you live longer, but with AIDS, there’s only one ending and that’s death.”

In the AIDS and HIV cases reported in Kern County, the majority of them were infected by men having sex with other men, according to data complied by the Department of Public Health.

Secondly, the others were infected by sharing drug needles or thirdly, through heterosexual sex.

“You have to know your partners and their sexual history. It’s a good idea before you start having sex with them to get tested to make sure everything is OK,” said Martin. “You have to protect yourself by using condoms all the time. Too many people get burned by thinking they know their partner, and it turns out their partner is infected.”

AIDS is transmitted through the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV or AIDS, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid and breast milk.

Martin pointed out that you can’t get infected by handshakes, hugging or kissing.

The Department of Public Health offers free HIV/AIDS testing and condoms. All a person needs to do is come to the building at 1800 Mt. Vernon Ave. in east Bakersfield between normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday and ask to be tested and/or for condoms.

“I know because of religious beliefs, people don’t want to use condoms,” Martin said. “However, you’re putting your life at risk, so just use condoms.”