June 30, 2014
Cuomo: Boost HIV Tests, Treatment to End Epidemic
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
New York state has a plan to end its three-decade HIV epidemic by the year 2020.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) announced the ambitious initiative on Sunday, the day of New York City's Gay Pride Parade.
The state aims to bring the disease to below epidemic levels by increasing HIV testing while boosting tracking and treatment for people who have the virus. The plan includes getting bulk discounts on HIV drugs.
About 3,000 New York state residents are expected to be diagnosed with HIV this year, down from 14,000 new cases in 1993. Cuomo's plan aims to reduce new diagnoses to 750 per year by 2020.
If the state is successful, it would be the first time the number of people living with HIV has gone down since the crisis began.
