By: Sheeka Strickland


People in central Georgia are not as concerned about getting HIV as they should be. That's what Latonje May of the Bibb County Health Department says.

May says many people think if they're not doing illegal drugs or doing other high risk activities then they don't have to worry about getting HIV. But she says everyone could potentially be at risk.

Vivan Simon has to take lots of pills.

VIVIAN SIMON: LIVING WITH HIV
"I'm on Kaletra, the new Kaletra, I take two twice a day. I'm on Sustiva and Videx. Those are pro-inhibitors. What they do is lock the virus in a cell. They keep the virus from going through the body."
She's been living with HIV for 21 years. She got the disease from her husband.

VIVIAN SIMON: LIVING WITH HIV
"My husband gave it to me cause he was messing around, taking women with him on his business trips."

LATONJE MAY: HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, MACON-BIBB COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
"Over 80% of women that are HIV positive or have AIDS were either married or in a long term, monogamous relationship."

May says HIV affects all kinds of people.

LATONJE MAY: HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, MACON-BIBB COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
"There's probably a quarter of a million people in the United States that are not aware of their HIV status."

June 27 is the 25th anniversary of the first known case of AIDS. Since then, advancements in health care have strengthened the fight against the disease.

With developments in technology and medicine, you no longer have to be worried about getting stuck with needles when getting tested. All the nurse has to do is swab your mouth.

More knowledge about HIV is also what's kept HIV positive people like Simon, and her inspiration, Magic Johnson, alive.

The swab test for HIV is called Orasure.

The test results come back in about a week. The test is about 98% accurate.

A nurse at the Bibb county health department suggests everyone who is sexually active get tested for HIV at least once a year.