San Diego County approves U.S.-Mexico HIV program

San Diego County's board of supervisors last week approved a pilot program to reduce HIV transmissions by those who travel back and forth between the United States and Mexico, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. County health officials, staff at the University of California's Universitywide AIDS Research Program, and HIV/AIDS groups in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, will interview migrants and other regular border crossers about their high-risk behaviors and whether they've been tested for HIV infection. Information on safer sex and other risk-reduction practices also will be provided to the program participants. The project is funded in part by a $193,000 grant from the state's university system. San Diego County epidemiologist Michele Ginsberg says the program hopes to identify the types of services needed to reduce HIV transmissions on both sides of the border.