JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In an effort aimed at helping to curb the spread of a deadly disease, Friday is National HIV/AIDS testing day, calling attention to the need for people to learn if they could be infected with the virus.

This year's testing day comes just days after a report that found Jacksonville had one of the higher infection rates in the state.

Every 9 1/2 minutes another person in the U.S. is infected with HIV, and one of the main reasons for the spread of this disease is lack of knowledge.

Many people do not know their status, but Friday some local residents made it a point to find out.

Nationwide, people are encouraged to learn their HIV status.

Locally, people could go to the Duval County Health Department for a free, 20-minute rapid test.

"It's as easy as a finger prick," health educator Tarrell King said. "Once they put it in a solution, they wait for 20 minutes, and then you get your results."

Counselors are there to educate about the disease and safe sex. They also offer guidance to those who do discover they are infected.

Recently, Duval County was cited as having the sixth highest AIDS rate in Florida. Everyone's at risk, but the disease is spreading among women at an alarming rate, particularly young African-American women.

"Women need to take their power back," King said. "We need to be responsible for our actions."

Counselors saw more women than usual come in for testing, but not enough men as they'd like. Lately, the health department said they've been on a campaign to engage partners.

"Women will come in and get tested," King said. "However they won't bring their partners, or their partners won't come."

She said this contributes to the incline in the infection rate among women.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said nationwide about 21 percent of HIV infections go undiagnosed.

The CDC encourages regular testing so that patients can benefit from early medical care. They also believe it curbs the spread of the disease.

Currently, there are around 8,300 people who live with HIV/AIDS in Duval County.

Friday's not the only day you can get tested. The Duval County Health Department offers the free rapid test Monday through Friday.