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HIV/AIDS: The stigma still surrounds the disease

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HIV/AIDS hits urban, metropolitan areas the hardest. So it's no surprise that Cuyahoga County claimed the highest number of cases compared to other Northeast Ohio counties.

According to the Cleveland Department of Public Health, there were 212 cases reported in 2014. 70 percent of them were African-Americans and 50 percent were gay or bisexual men.

Aids has been a part of our culture for over 40 years. Every nine and a half minutes someone is infected with HIV, and yet the the stigma surrounding it is still an issue.

Public health officials said people still don't want to talk about it and they're not getting tested.

Statistics show the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS is in the African-American community, the same community that gives the office of HIV/AIDS services the most resistance.

The Cleveland Department of Public Health is doing its part to get out into the community more. They have made strong efforts to increase awareness and to educate those who could be most affected by the disease.

For more information on HIV/AIDS, visit clevelandhealth.org.