North Dakota Oil Boom Sparks Rise in HIV/AIDS

While North Dakota has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates in the nation, the number of cases in the state has grown significantly in just a few years, mirroring rapid population growth as workers from around the country flock to jobs in the state's oil boom.

 

In 2007, just 91 HIV patients and 75 AIDS patients were living in North Dakota, according to Department of Health statistics. By 2013, the number of HIV patients had more than doubled to 230 and the number of AIDS patients living in the state had grown to 127.

 

AIDS is a disease that weakens the immune system and HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

 

North Dakota Department of Health HIV/AIDS program manager Lindsey VanderBusch said there have been 58 new HIV cases recorded so far this year — either new diagnoses or people with the virus moving to North Dakota from elsewhere. This year's figure already matches last year's total, which was the highest number of new HIV or AIDS cases in state history.