(Springfield, MO) -- Tuesday was World AIDS Day, a day meant to build awareness about a disease that's infected 33 million people around the planet.

Dozens of people turned out Tuesday night for a vigil in downtown Springfield. Ceremonies like it were taking place all across the country.

Homemade quilt panels were on display to remember people who have died from the disease. 32 panels have been created for people with ties to Southwest Missouri.

In Southwest Missouri, there are almost 800 people living with HIV. Nearly 600 of them receive medical assistance from the AIDS Project of the Ozarks.  Even so, the director of the outreach says new cases are appearing more often than not.
 
"What we're continuing to see not only here in Springfield, but across the state of Missouri is an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with HIV. In particular are youth. Those ages 14 to 24 seem to be at greatest risk right now," says Marlin Martin, AIDS Project of the Ozarks.

Researchers are still trying to pinpoint why the numbers are growing in the younger age groups.