Clinica Sierra Vista emphasizes the importance of routine testing on National HIV Testing Day
Kern County is facing a concerning rise in HIV cases, with 215 residents diagnosed in 2023 – a 40% increase from 2018. Health experts stress that the most significant barrier to HIV care is not knowing you need it, making routine testing more critical than ever.
“A majority of our patients that I do see don’t have any symptoms. If they do, they present with flu-like symptoms, which people just pass off as the flu, and then eventually, when they get sick enough and end up in the emergency room and get screened for HIV, that’s when they are usually diagnosed.” — Ashton Chase, nurse practitioner and HIV specialist with Clinica Sierra Vista.
The good news is that early detection leads to highly effective treatment options. Modern anti-retroviral therapies can reduce HIV to undetectable levels, making it untransmittable and allowing people to live healthy, normal lives.
Clinica Sierra Vista hosted a free HIV testing event on National HIV Testing Day, offering testing along with free haircuts, food, and other community resources. The clinic continues to provide confidential HIV testing and treatment as part of its comprehensive healthcare services.
For more information about HIV testing and treatment services at Clinica Sierra Vista, visit our HIV & Related Medical Services page.
Original article by Justin White. Posted: Jun 27, 2025; 11:01 AM, PDT. Updated: Jun 27, 2025; 11:02 AM, PDT.
