World Aids Day is Thursday December 1st and in recognition the Casper-Natrona County Health Department offers FREE Rapid HIV Testing.

Trina Soper, public health nurse for the Natrona County Health Department, says 1 in 5 people are infected and don't know it and she says in Wyoming people are less likely to get tested.

"There were 394 confirmed cases as of June 30th, 2011 in Wyoming. That doesn't sound like a very high number, but we don't test very well in Wyoming. People don't think HIV is here and so they don't think they need to be tested."

Infected individuals are at a higher risk for serious medical conditions and, Soper says, people who are tested and treated early have a very good chance of living a long and healthy life. Any one having sex or using drugs are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Walk-in free rapid testing happens Thursday at the health department, 475 South Spruce Street, from 8 to 4 pm.

"The testing that we will be providing is a rapid test. It's a test where we just poke their finger, one little drop of blood, and we'll give them their results in 15 minutes."

The Health Department will also be testing at Casper College, from 1 to 4  in the Wold Science building.

The Natrona County Health Department can also provide HIV/AIDS testing and counseling by appointment.

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