Mobilizing a mass HIV counseling and testing program in Chautauqua County.

In October 1997, the staff of the New York State Department of Health's Anonymous HIV Counseling and Testing Program were mobilized to assist the Chautauqua County Department of Health to respond to an unprecedented demand for HIV counseling and testing. This demand followed the release of the name of an HIV-infected individual who was suspected of infecting 13 young women in Chautauqua County. This article reviews essential elements of New York's efforts to assist Chautauqua County in meeting increased demands for HIV counseling and testing services during the emergency response. New York's experience can help inform other jurisdictions that may encounter similar public health emergencies in the future.