«Chicago has some of the best HIV prevention programs in the world, and yet we are seeing a rise in new cases,» noted Benjamin Young, MD, an infectious disease specialist who advised the Obama and Trump administrations. «This shows that the problem is not a lack of tools, but the accessibility of care, policy, and how it is actually implemented.»
In response, health organizations and activists are stepping up street outreach. This summer, Chicago is launching rapid-testing and counseling programs on the streets, directly in the neighborhoods where the most vulnerable groups live.
According to the OMH, in 2023 Latinos were 72% more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than the population average, and 38% more likely to progress to the AIDS stage. Every October, National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) is held. In 2025 the organizers placed the emphasis specifically on testing: an estimated 170,000 people in the US are living with HIV and do not know it.