HIV cases are
rising in South Dakota

The incidence of newly reported HIV infections are are rising in South Dakota, with 26 new cases reported during the first six months of 2005, compared with 19 reported in all of 2004, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. State health officials attribute the increase to active use of crystal methamphetamine and a growing trend among gay and bisexual men of having unprotected sex with partners met through the Internet. They also say many South Dakotans believe that HIV does not pose a risk to them because so few HIV-positive people live in the state. South Dakota has the fourth-lowest HIV prevalence rate in the country with only 285 residents having tested positive for infection. Health officials say they are educating health care providers in the state about the rising HIV rate and alerting them about meth and Internet use as possible risk factors for HIV infection.