The District has experienced a 79% reduction in newly diagnosed HIV cases since 2007, according to a new D.C. Health Department report.

That includes a dramatic drop in cases attributable to injection drug use, from 150 cases in 2007 to only 2 in 2019. This change correlates with the 2007 enactment of D.C. needle exchange program. That enabled qualified officials to provide clean and sterile hypodermic needles and syringes to injecting drug users. The hope was that doing so would cut down on viruses and diseases transmitted through intravenous drug use.

The report’s findings are current through December 31, 2019.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was encouraged by the report. “Our partnerships with the community have continued to yield promising results to both stem and reduce new HIV cases, while also delivering better and more efficient treatment to residents living with HIV,” she said. “Our goal of ending the HIV epidemic in DC is not yet done, and we will continue to work to ensure equity in services, reduce stigma as an access barrier, make testing easier, support needle exchange, and keep people HIV negative.”

In June, D.C. Health started offering free, at-home, self-swab HIV test kits that provide results in 20 minutes.

The Health Department report said that 12,408 D.C. residents, or 1.8% of the population, were experiencing HIV at the end of 2019.

Much like with COVID-19 cases, Black D.C. residents were disproportionately effected, with 2.8% of the population living with HIV. Nearly half of D.C.’s HIV-positive individuals identify as a Black male.

Overall, those who identify as male make up more than 70% of HIV cases.

Those who identify as transgender made up 3% of newly diagnosed HIV cases, or 12 individuals, in 2015. Four years later that dropped to 2.5%, or 7 individuals.

Deaths related to HIV increased slightly from 2014 to 2018, with 87 people dying due to HIV-related causes.

Although the District had success in combating HIV, it has continued to significantly exceed the national rate in new HIV infections. In 2018, according to the District’s report, the new infection rate was more than triple the national average.

The city reported mixed findings in regards to other sexually transmitted and infectious diseases during the period reviewed. Newly reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea increased by 26% and 70%, respectively, since 2015. About half of those cases were people between 20 and 29 years old. Syphilis cases also have increased over the last five years.

Hepatitis B and C cases have decreased, as well as tuberculosis including a 33% decrease since 2018.