2003 Reportable Communicable Disease Summary

AIDS and HIV Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spread through unprotected sex and sharing injection drug equipment with an HIV-infected partner, and less frequently, through blood transfusions and breast feeding. Disease morbidity is monitored to provide information to people and agencies designing public health interventions and to promote treatment options for those infected with HIV. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) represents the late stage of HIV infection, indicated by either low CD4 (immune system) cell counts or the manifestation of an opportunistic condition indicative of poor immune system functioning. Although there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, there are drug treatments that can prolong and enhance the quality of life. HIV infection can be prevented by abstaining from sex outside of a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner and by not injecting recreational drugs. Those who are sexually active outside of a mutually monogamous relationship or who inject drugs can protect themselves by using a condom when engaging in sexual activity and by not sharing injection drug equipment. Pregnant women who are infected with HIV can minimize transmission of infection to their fetus by taking zidovudine during pregnancy. From 1981 through 2003, 5,571 cases of AIDS were reported in Oregon, including 3,072 deaths. Men accounted for 5,146 cases (92%), and there were 425 female cases (8%). Most cases have been white (4,815, 86%) with 296 (5%) African Americans, 349 (6%) Hispanics, 48 (<1%) Asians, and 61 (1%) Native Americans reported. Only 18 cases of pediatric AIDS have been reported in Oregon. In 2003, 174 cases of AIDS were reported.


HIV infection (as opposed to AIDS) became reportable in Oregon on October 1, 2001. Through December 2003, 1,209 cases of HIV were reported. One hundred twenty-seven of those were newly diagnosed in 2003.