Logo courtesy of Butte County Public Health

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Butte County Public Health will offer free, confidential testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C on June 26 in recognition of National HIV Testing Day.

Testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Butte County Public Health clinics in Chico, 1930 Notre Dame Blvd., and Oroville, 78 Table Mountain Blvd. Rapid test results will be available within 30 minutes.

The testing is open to the public and available to anyone age 12 and older. No identification or health insurance is required. Gift cards will be provided while supplies last.

Individuals who receive a positive result will be connected with confirmatory testing and treatment through local medical providers.

“Every year, we see about 10 to 16 new HIV cases in Butte County,” said Dr. Jarett Beaudoin, Butte County public health officer. “Getting tested is the first step. If you do test positive, some treatments can help you stay healthy and live a full life while also protecting others.”

Public health officials said many people with sexually transmitted infections do not know they are infected because symptoms are often absent. Regular testing remains one of the most effective ways to determine a person's status and help prevent transmission.

Health officials recommend at least one HIV test for people ages 13 to 64, with more frequent testing for those at higher risk. They also recommend syphilis testing for sexually active individuals and hepatitis C screening for all adults 18 and older and during each pregnancy.

More frequent testing may be appropriate for people with multiple sexual partners, those who do not know a partner's sexual history, individuals who have sex without a condom, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs or share needles.

Butte County Public Health also offers HIV PrEP and PEP navigation services for individuals at higher risk of exposure. The program provides prevention education, assistance with payment programs and connections to PrEP and PEP providers.

For more information, contact the confidential Communicable Disease Line at 530-552-3929.