Since Charlie Sheen announced he is HIV positive, many have used this as a platform to raise awareness about the disease. Seirra Fowler, assistant director of wellness and health promotion, believes HIV and AIDS awareness are important.
“HIV is one of the only diseases where people are stigmatized so heavily for having that disease,” Fowler said. She believes there should be more HIV awareness and HIV testing should be routine, destigmatizing the disease.
In the latest polling, Baton Rouge ranked fourth highest in number of HIV cases per capita. The city has consistently ranked high in both the number of HIV cases and the number of AIDS cases.
“I think it’s a lack of education,” Fowler said.  “I think it’s a lack of resources for people knowing where they can go to get tested.”
The LSU Student Health Center has many resources for students in regards to HIV, STIs and health promotion.
“We do rapid opt-out testing so students can get their test results in the same day,” Fowler said.  “Additionally, if students want to talk about safer sex practices a little more in depth they can come down to wellness and health promotion and we can do an individual one-on-one consult with that student.”
The HIV disease is spread in five different ways: blood, breast milk, vaginal fluid, pre-seminal fluid and seminal fluid. This means the virus can be contracted through oral sex and anal rimming, as well as unprotected sex.  HIV can be spread through sharing injection needles, too.  
However if someone does contract the HIV virus, there may not be any symptoms to warn them. Some go many years without showing any symptoms, Fowler said.
“But if you do have some symptoms, some of the symptoms may be a common cold.”
Students are encouraged to get HIV tested every six months to a year. However, students must know the test has a three month testing window.
“It takes HIV three months for the anti-bodies to build in your blood to show in a test,” said Fowler.
In order to prevent the spread of the HIV virus, students should practice safe sex by using a latex condom. Students should also know their status as well as the status of their partner.