HIV Cases Rise in Onondaga County

Public officials are investigating a rise in the number of HIV cases in Onondaga County in men under the age of 25. Within the past four months there have been nine newly diagnosed cases. That is the typical number of new cases Onondaga County sees in a year.

Our NCC's Stacey Rice went to the Onondaga County Health Department testing clinic at the Civic Center to learn the cause behind the rise in HIV numbers. Rice spoke to Diane Rothermel, who works at the HIV testing clinic at the health department and Rothermel says that young people don't see the disease to be as big of a risk anymore.

Rothermel went on to say that "people need to keep in mind that sexually transmitted disease, HIV, is out there, the rates are still high, and people need to know who they're having sex with and protect themselves."

Testing at the HIV clinic is free and is highly encouraged by the Onondage County Health Department.