ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - June 27 marks National HIV Testing Day, but this year is far different from years ago when HIV and AIDS led the news almost weekly.

Stateline organizations offer free testing for HIV, but the virus has been stigmatized and shamed. The point of National HIV Testing Day is to encourage people who are sexually active to get tested for the virus.

Negative attitudes and judgements towards people living with HIV or AIDs can stop others from getting tested. Shayna Chiarelli, Director of Clinical Operations at Crusader Community Health says, “You know I think a lot of the stigma comes from the way that an individual might be judged or cared for after somebody knows they have HIV. That’s sad because this day in age we should care for everyone.”

HIV damages the immune system so that the body is less able to fight infection and disease. If HIV isn’t treated, it can take years before it weakens the immune system enough to become AIDS. Thanks to treatment, most people in the U.S. don’t get AIDS.

While there have been advances in treating the disease there are still challenges. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 40% of infections are transmitted by people who don’t know they have it.

The virus can be confirmed by a simple blood draw or mouth swab and while experts there is not a cure for the disease, new medical advancements happen every day.

Unfortunately, there are still many myths about HIV that can leave patients feeling overwhelmed and concerned.

“I think the stigma is going down. It still exists, there are still a lot of people that have issues with having HIV,” says Shelton Kay, executive director for the Rockford Regional Health Council.

To view resources on free HIV testing you can visit www.greaterthan.org, type in your zip code and find a location near you.