Today is National HIV Testing Day, and city and national health officials estimate that nearly 1.1. million Americans are infected with the virus that causes AIDS and nearly one in five do not know they have it.


The Centers for Disease Control now recommends screening for people between the ages of 13 and 64.


City Department Of Health officials say they are getting a handle on the disease but the threat is far from over.


"You can test yourself at home. You can live a long, productive life if you start treatment early," said Dr. Monica Sweeney of the DOH HIV/AIDS Bureau. "The number of babies getting infected are under 10 a year. Things are looking up, but we have a long way to go."


In 2011, more than 113,000 New Yorkers had HIV or AIDS, according to DOH officials.


To learn more about how to get tested, visit .comgo to aids dot gov.