April 28, 2016

DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES NEW HIV DATA CENTER

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—In an effort to increase public awareness of the status of HIV in Florida, the Department of Health has launched a new HIV Data Center that clearly explains the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) information gathering and CDC’s deduplication processes. The new HIV Data Center, compounded with CDC’s recent report praising Florida’s HIV data program, demonstrates the Department of Health’s commitment to treating and preventing HIV in Florida.

“Fighting a terrible and complex disease, such as HIV, requires a multifaceted approach that involves collecting and analyzing data, providing testing and linkage to treatment and a tremendous amount of education,” said Interim State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip. “Florida has developed one of the nation's most comprehensive HIV programs that addresses surveillance, education, prevention, counseling, testing, care and treatment. It is our goal that this webpage will serve as another tool to educate community leaders, our partners and our residents about the state of HIV in Florida.”

The new HIV Data Center, hosted on the front page of the department’s website, features:

• The number of recorded cases of HIV infection in Florida from 2010 through 2014;
• Information on CDC’s deduplication process;
• The number of cases deduplicated by Florida;
• The number of cases received from CDC to analyze for deduplication; and
• Outlines the process by which a person who tests positive for HIV might be reflected in multiple states’ data.

Through targeted outreach, the department brings together community partners to reach high-risk populations for the purpose of education and testing. The department has mobilized comprehensive and dynamic resources – such as our mobile health units that go into neighborhoods to talk about prevention and provide testing and counseling. By continuing to raise awareness, we can help educate a new generation about HIV/AIDS.

The department will continue to update the webpage as new data becomes available each month.

To view the website, click here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.