HIV on the Rise in Wisconsin

A 14.5% increase in new HIV cases in one year---48% of AIDS cases among MSM, 15.1% among drug users, leaving just shy of 40% for heterosexual sex (MSW)---for every 2.5 MSM cases there is 1 MSW case. A little less than 50% of all HIV cases occur in Milwaukee County.

Please note that no where in this article is male homosexual sex mentioned. That term has been replaced with "men having sex with men" (MSM). This is not accidental. It is a more inclusive term allowing for the men who have prison sex, expanded "recreational" sex, the "Down Lo", or perversions such as pedeophilia. The increase in the heterosexual HIV cases occur because these men consider themseleves heterosexual and also have sex with their wives, girlfriends or "hookups".

The Center for Disease Control is already generating policies and procedures to counteract this: testing in the prison population, for pregnant women and recommended testing in regular physicals. However, primary prevention information is slow to appear on this front. The standard condom message has not been bolstered by warnings about increased risk in heterosexual sex.

It is also sad that the new wonder drugs have lessened adherence to avoiding risk behaviors. Not using condoms is cited. Never mentioned is that the gay "bath house" and pickup bar scene has re-established itself, when at the height of the AIDS epidemic the high-risk behaviors that took place there were frowned upon.

Can sexual behavior continue unchecked? Is it a person's right to acquire HIV and pass it on? As a society, do we ignore that behavior is the cause? Do we just sit back and hope a vaccine is developed before this epidemic chooses our loved ones through no fault of their own?