About 2,000 people in the Valley have HIV, according to the AIDS Council, and about five people contract the virus every week. About 20 percent of the new cases involve a person less than 24 years old.

Adrian Castellanos, who believes he was infected at 16 years old, is among them. With medication, the HIV in his system is now undetectable.

A lack of local sex education and a reluctance among some Valley parents to talk about sex with their children contributes to the problem, Castellanos said.

CBS 4 News spoke with several Valley parents, who said some Hispanic cultural taboos may be partly to blame for the rate of sexually transmitted diseases.

The lack of sex education also plays a role, said Oscar Lopez of the AIDS Council.

The AIDS Council attempts to help by offering free HIV testing, which shows results in minutes. Testing for other infections takes up to two weeks.

Some infections, including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, are curable. Others, including HIV and herpes, aren't.

"Just go get tested," Leestamper said. "I know it's scary and you don't want it to be you, but it can be anybody."