On Thursday, Minnesota joins the rest of the nation in marking National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). Since 1982, 610 Latinos have been diagnosed with HIV in Minnesota, including 129 who have died, according to the state Department of Health. In the state, Latinos have an infection rate five times greater than among whites.

"Know your HIV status by getting tested and always practice safer sex to prevent HIV and the other STDs," said Peter Carr, the department's STD/HIV section manager. "The earlier you test, the more beneficial the treatments will be. Unfortunately, many of our Latino residents are testing at late stages of their HIV infection."

Compared to other groups, Latinos in the state had the highest percentage of late testers - 43 percent. A campaign to facilitate HIV screening includes a bilingual Web site, www.NoMasHIV.com or www.nomasstds.com. For more information about local testing opportunities and NLAAD events, visit http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/hiv/worldaidsday/nlaad/index.html.