It said 33 cases have been diagnosed since 1997, including a new one last year.
The CNMI has a population of around 60,000, at least half of whom are nonresidents.
Only two new HIV cases were diagnosed each year in 2001, 2006 and 2007, Public Health stated.
There was one case diagnosed in 1997 and 12 in 1998.
Three new cases were diagnosed in 1999 and five in 2005.
According to the department’s HIV/STD treatment and resource center’s John Dax Moreno, there were two HIV deaths reported in 2006.
Moreno, in an e-mail, said unprotected sex is the primary cause of any sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
He also noted that the local community remains under-tested for HIV.
The youth, sex industry workers, men that have sex with men, mobile men with money and intravenous drug users are potentially the most at-risk populations in the CNMI, he added.
Currently, active testing for HIV is performed on pregnant women to prevent the possible transmission of HIV to her baby, he said.
Yearly HIV/STD testing for foreign workers is also conducted before their work permits are renewed.
Moreno said testing that is now done orally and quick, as well as primary care for HIV and STDs are available through Public Health.
