Carbon County Public Health Communicable Disease Unit

Communicable diseases are spread from one person to another. These include HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases

Testing & Counseling

The only way to be sure of your Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) status is to get tested! Carbon County Public Health provides these free services:

• Rapid HIV testing
• Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis Testing
• Hepatitis B and C Screening
• Adult Viral Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations

Schedule an Appointment

Please call 307-328-2607 to schedule your appointment today! 

Protecting Yourself from STDs/HIV

Abstinence: Chose not to have sex. This is the only 100% effective way not to get HIV or an STD. 

• Condoms: Use a condom every time you have sex. There are many types of condoms; including male or female condoms, condoms made with either latex or polyurethane, and different sizes, and textures; make sure to find the condom for you! This will decrease your risk of getting HIV and STDs. You can get free condoms at your local family planning or public health nursing clinics! (make this a link to the clinics page)
• Other Barrier Methods: Protect yourself by using dental dams (latex sheath) for oral sex with a female or finger cots for finger play.
• Do Not Share Needles/Clean Your Works: Always use new, unused needles or clean your works by flushing the needle and plunger with water and bleach each time you use an intravenous drug syringe. Do not share other IV drug paraphernalia such as cookers cottons/filters, or water glasses.
• Sober Sex: When you are drinking or using drugs, you are more likely to make decisions that could lead to situations that can put you at risk for unsafe sexual practices. Having sex when you are sober can make you more likely to practice safe sex.
• Fewer Partners/Monogamy: The fewer sex partners you have, the more you reduce your risk of HIV/STD infection.
• Getting Tested: The only way to be sure of your HIV and STD status is to get tested.
• Know Your Partner’s HIV /STD Status: Ask your partner when the last time they were tested for HIV and STD’s. Going to the clinic together for both of you to get tested is a good way to break the ice, and protect yourself and them!

STD Resources

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Visit knowyo.org for low or no cost confidential HIV, STD, and viral hepatitis tests and more information about your risks for these infections.

This site contains education and prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since sexually transmitted diseases are spread through sexual practices, prevention messages and education may address these topics.

CDC Resources

Chlamydia

Genital Herpes

Gonorrhea

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

Syphilis 

Online Education – YouTube Videos

How To Use A Condom

A Condom For Everyone

Consent is like Tea https://youtu.be/fGoWLWS4-kU

Hepatitis Resources For Patients

Know your risks:

Some people have a higher risk for hepatitis C infection, including:

• Current injection drug users (currently the most common way Hepatitis C virus is spread in the United States)
• Past injection drug users, including those who injected only one time or many years ago
• People born between 1945 and 1965
• Recipients of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
• People who received a blood product for clotting problems made before 1987
• Hemodialysis patients or persons who spent many years on dialysis for kidney failure
• People who received body piercing or tattoos done with non-sterile instruments
• People with known exposures to the Hepatitis C virus, such as
• Health care workers injured by needle sticks
• Recipients of blood or organs from a donor who tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus
• HIV-infected persons
• Children born to mothers infected with the Hepatitis C virus

Click here for additional information about hepatitis C

Know your status:

If you think you may be at risk for viral hepatitis infection, the next step is to get tested to know your status. Hepatitis testing may be included as a free service in your private insurance plan if you have risks for infection or if you were born between 1945 and 1965. If you don’t have insurance, see the link below for low-cost or no-cost testing options.

www.knowyo.org – Through knowyo.org, you can access low/no cost hepatitis testing at clinics throughout the state. These clinics also provide HIV and STD testing and provide adult hepatitis A and B vaccine for those who have not been vaccinated.

Already know your status?

Medications exist that can cure most types of hepatitis C infection. See the links below for support and resources for living with and treating hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C Treatment Access: This page has information for patients and providers to assist in attaining access to hepatitis C treatment.

Hepatitis C Treatment Assistance Programs: This page includes a listing of treatment assistance programs available for people who cannot afford curative hepatitis C medication.

Help 4 Hep: This Program provides peer-to-peer support for hepatitis C and the associated challenges. The phone call and support are all free of charge.

HIV/HCV Coinfection: Many people infected with HIV are also infected with HCV. This page gives more information on HIV/HCV coinfections.

HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that can be spread through blood, sexual contact and breast milk. Once you contract HIV you will have it for life. HIV attacks the body’s immune system and makes it harder for your body to fight off infections. If left untreated HIV can advance to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), which is the last stage of HIV. Even though there is no cure for HIV, there are medications that can help manage the infection. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested.

The Wyoming Department of Health has resources for those who want to know their HIV status, those who are infected with HIV, those who have a partner that is HIV positive, case managers, and healthcare providers.

Source: https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/signs-and-symptoms/index.html

Equal Access to the HIV Prevention Revolution

Based on #ScienceNotStigma

All people living with HIV have a right to accurate and meaningful information about their social, sexual, and reproductive health.

HIV Prevention