Disease Surveillance and Epidemioligy
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Services
- HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, a disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off infections.
- Having sexual contact with a person infected with HIV or using a needle contaminated with HIV infected blood are the main ways HIV is spread.
- If you have had unprotected sex or shared needles, it is important for you to be tested for HIV and know the test status of your partner(s).
- People become infected with HIV because of what they do, not because of who they are.
- There is treatment for HIV/AIDS but there is no cure.
- A confidential blood test can show if you, your sex partner(s), or needle sharing partner(s) are infected with HIV. If you are infected with HIV, your health department counselor or your physician can explain things that you can do to try to protect your health.
Prevention Counseling and Partner Elicitation (PCPE)
The PCPE effort helps prevent the transmission of the HIV disease by providing risk assessment and risk reduction counseling and testing services to interested and targeted individuals. PCPE identifies those individuals infected with HIV, refers them to early intervention services and medical care. Counselors provide services at several community-based organizations, neighborhood health centers, and businesses in addition to the City of Austin RBJ Clinic at 15 Waller Street, Austin, Texas, 78702 (512 972-5580). The clinic is open for services Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed 12 noon -1 p.m.
Counseling & Testing
Prevention Counseling & Partner Elicitation (PCPE) works to prevent the spread of HIV by providing individual HIV risk assessment and risk reduction counseling and comprehensive HIV/STD testing and referral for early intervention services. Testing is available FREE of charge. Call 512 972-5580 for an appointment at the RBJ clinic at 15 Waller Street, Austin, Texas, 78702. The clinic is open for services Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed 12 noon -1 p.m. In most instances, same-day test results are available.
Comprehensive Risk and Counseling Services (CRCS)
The Comprehensive Risk and Counseling Services (CRCS) program works to prevent the spread of HIV by providing individual counseling for clients at high risk for contracting or transmitting HIV. These confidential services are provided free of charge by a licensed counselor in an office, home, or community setting with evening times available. The goal of the program is to provide non-judgmental harm reduction counseling that focuses on taking steps toward high-risk behavior change.
Community Education
Educational presentations are offered on a limited basis to groups and agencies throughout the Travis County area. Health educators focus on HIV prevention, signs and symptoms of HIV, and referrals for screening and treatment.
HIV and AIDS Surveillance
HIV/AIDS Surveillance identifies and investigates HIV/AIDS cases generated by lab reports, hospitals, clinics, death certificates, and physicians. More extensive investigations are completed for pediatric HIV exposures and confirmed pediatric HIV/AIDS cases. Surveillance data provide information on the burden, distribution, and trends in HIV infection in the area. HIV/AIDS Surveillance is part of the Communicable Disease Unit under the Office of the Health Authority. The data are reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services, which in turn reports on the total number of cases in the area to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance staff protects and ensures the security and confidentiality of all Travis County HIV/AIDS case reports.
Travis County HIV Surveillance Reports
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
The National AIDS hotline: 1 (800) 342-AIDS
en Espanol: 1 (800) 344-SIDA
