LAS VEGAS (AP) - Officials are marking the 12th National Black
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by urging Nevadans to get tested for the
diseases.

The Southern Nevada Health District says about 25 percent of
people living with HIV or AIDS are African-American. One in 16
black men will be diagnosed with HIV during his lifetime, and one
in 32 black women will be diagnosed. Those rates are much higher
than rates for the general population.

Tuesday's awareness day is focusing on testing, which is
available at the health district's offices.

Officials say an early diagnosis is critical to getting proper
treatment. But almost 40 percent of people who have HIV aren't
diagnosed until after they've developed AIDS, which can happen 10
years after the initial infection.

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