Jackson County Tied For 6th in Florida Counties In Total Number of AIDS Cases
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 4:49 PM Nov 26, 2009
Jackson County Tied For 6th in Florida Counties In Total Number of AIDS Cases
It might come as a surprise to most, but Jackson County is tied for 6th place among Florida counties with the total number of AIDS cases.
Posted: 6:01 PM Nov 25, 2009
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen
Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com
width:200 and height: 150 and picwidth: 200 and pciheight: 150
Font Size:

It might come as a surprise to most, but Jackson County is tied for 6th place among Florida counties with the total number of AIDS cases. Health officials say they want to use the 21st annual World Aids Day on December 1st, to send a message. They're hoping to educate more young people about the deadly disease.

Jackson County Health Department Educator Rick Vitale can describe its effect in one word. "Devastating disease? Yeah, pretty much it is."

Vitale has seen more than 400 AIDS patients die since he began his work. "It's one that it just doesn't hit you physically but it affects a person emotionally, financially, it's a very degrading disease, it strips the person of the very human dignity that they possibly could imagine. The HIV virus attacks a person's immune system, making them vulnerable to a host of other medical issues.

"Because your body is breaking down and withering away, your body becomes a host for these opportunistic infections to take over." The virus is carried in the blood stream and is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids. Sexual activity is the most common. "Definitely. It is being transferred through sexual activity."

"Out of 67 counties in the state of Florida, the 2008 HIV/AIDS statistics shows Jackson County tied for 6th in the number of people who tested positive for the disease."

That ranks it higher than Holmes, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf and Liberty County. The Health Department says they are seeing more of these cases within the younger age demographic. Which is why they are partnering with Chipola College again to offer free testing, using mouth swabs.

"Chipola provides an excellent location for us to find individuals, young adults who are in the target group we're looking for in terms of what we're seeing in new cases of AIDS and HIV," says Administrator William Long.

The Health Department says the best defenses against HIV are abstinence and education. "Know the situation. If you know the enemy so to speak and how to take care of it then you know how to defend yourself from the situation."

The free HIV testing clinic will be on November 30th from 10am to 2pm at Chipola College's Health Science building.

Headlines - msnbc.com
  • Docs diagnose Harry Potter's headaches

    After years of studying, experts think they've figured out what was ailing Harry Potter all those years -- a  nummular headache.After years of studying, experts think they've figured out what was ailing Harry Potter all those years -- a  nummular headache.


  • Is it Alzheimer's, or mild cognitive impairment?
    Almost everyone currently diagnosed with a mild form of Alzheimer's disease would be downgraded to not having the condition, if new proposed criteria for the diagnosis of cognitive problems were applied, a new study shows.
  • Study: Child abuse bigger threat than SIDS
    In the first national estimate of serious injuries due to child abuse, Yale University researchers say 4,600 U.S. children were hospitalized with broken bones, traumatic brain injury and other serious damage caused by abuse. Babies younger than one were the most common victims.
  • Facebook takes a toll on your mental health
    By Stephanie PappasLiveScience Facebook's initial public offering of stock is likely to make a lot of developers and designers of the site very wealthy.
  • Sex-ed less effective in red states, study says
    By Christopher WanjekLiveScience Sex education is failing to reduce adolescent birthrates in conservative states, according to a new study. Perhaps paradoxically, states with a majority conservative population and higher degree of religiosity tend to have higher teen birthrates.
  • Spanking linked to more aggression in kids
    A review of 20 years of research finds that physically disciplining a child has long-term, harmful effects on their development.
  • CDC: 1 in 5 kids exposed to secondhand smoke in cars
    Texting while driving, speeding and back-seat hanky-panky aren't all that parents need to worry about when their kids are in cars: Add secondhand smoke to the list.
  • 11 instant mood-boosting foods

    Dark chocolate, blue potatoes and lemon macaroons! Find out what other surprising foods can help feed your brain and improve mood. Dark chocolate, blue potatoes and lemon macaroons! Find out what other surprising foods can help feed your brain and improve mood.


  • Study: Green tea could be secret to healthy old age
    Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
  • Supporters grapple with fallout over Komen cuts

    Fierce controversy over a policy that cut -- then apparently restored -- funding for Planned Parenthood by the Susan G.Fierce controversy over a policy that cut -- then apparently restored -- funding for Planned Parenthood by the Susan G.


  • US shutters embassy in Syria, withdraws staff
    The US has closed its embassy in Damascus and withdrawn all American diplomats from Syria as President Assad's deadly crackdown on rebels continues.
  • 'Deceptive practices': US levies new sanctions on Iran
    WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama ordered new U.S. sanctions on the government of Iran, including the Central Bank, on Monday.
  • European politician taps into fear, sex appeal

    A Flemish nationalist politician in Belgium has launched a new campaign that taps into anxiety about the country’s immigrant Muslim population, while capitalizing on the svelte figure of his 19-year-old daughter.A Flemish nationalist politician in Belgium has launched a new campaign that taps into anxiety about the country’s immigrant Muslim population, while capitalizing on the svelte figure of his 19-year-old daughter.


  • 6.8 quake in Philippines kills 13, buries homes

    A strong earthquake in the Philippines killed at least 13 people Monday as it destroyed buildings and triggered landslides that buried dozens of houses, trapping residents.A strong earthquake in the Philippines killed at least 13 people Monday as it destroyed buildings and triggered landslides that buried dozens of houses, trapping residents.


  • Israel: Palestinian deal abandons 'way of peace'
    The main Palestinian political rivals took a major step Monday toward healing their bitter rift, agreeing that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would head an interim unity government to prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza.
  • European freeze disrupts schools, transit

    People walk on a frozen path alongside Lake Geneva in Coppet, Switzerland, on Monday.Overwhelmed by deep snow and harsh temperatures, some countries in Europe closed down schools and struggled to run public transport Monday, as post-snow rains caused a dam to collapse in Bulgaria, flooding a village and killing at least four.


  • Greece plays game of chicken over bailout

    A Greek and an EU flag fly atop the Greek ministry of finance as a storm, literally and financially, looms over Athens.Greece let yet another deadline slip on Monday for responding to painful terms for a new EU/IMF bailout as patience in Brussels wore thin over drawn-out negotiations among its feuding political leaders.


  • Aww, man! Bart Simpson joins Barbie in Iran ban
    TEHRAN -- The Simpsons are corroding the morals of Iranian youth, an official said on Monday, as dolls based on Bart, Homer and the rest of the American cartoon family joined the shapely Barbie among Western toys targeted by a new crackdown in Tehran.
  • Radical preacher to be released, UK judge rules
    A British court ruled Monday that an extremist cleric described as one of Europe's leading al-Qaida operatives should be released on bail.
  • Egypt speeds up work for presidential vote

    An Egyptian man stands in front of riot police blocking the road during clashes with protestors near the Interior Ministry in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday.Egypt's military leader told electoral officials Monday to speed preparations for presidential elections after a new eruption of street protests demanding that the ruling generals move more quickly to hand power to an elected government.