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For the past three decades, a killer has been on the loose.

That killer is AIDS. It seems that in some areas Jacksonville is snuffing it out.

So far this year, no HIV positive babies have been born to mothers who carry the virus, said Max Wilson, program administrator for disease control at the Florida Department of Health in Duval County.

Thats an accomplishment, considering that about 20 years ago that number was in the teens, he said.

We had between 80 to 100 infants exposed to HIV this year, Wilson told me. None have HIV zero for 80 isnt too bad.

And the rate of HIV among black women in the area is declining.

Seven years ago, we saw that rate climbing, but now were in the second year of declining HIV rates for African-American women, Wilson said. Theyve had a lot of conferences, a lot of awareness campaigns We think thats made a difference.

AWARENESS IS LACKING

Unfortunately, awareness campaigns still struggle to pierce the consciousness of black men and teenagers when it comes to being on guard against HIV.

For the men, its about stigma. They dont want to face the fact that theyre having sex with men. But for young people, HIV has an accomplice: sexualized images and perceptions that HIV is no longer a threat. It is.

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AIDS remains a killer in many communities