Number of New HIV Infections in U.S. Rising

Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new estimate of the annual number of new HIV infections (HIV incidence) in the United States, 1 revealing that the HIV epidemic is — and has been — worse than previously known. That estimate indicated that approximately 56,300 people were newly infected with HIV in the United States in 2006 (95 percent Confidence Interval: 48,200–64,500), which is higher than CDC’s previous estimate of 40,000. The new estimate also confirmed that gay and bisexual men of all races, African Americans, and Latinos were most heavily affected by HIV.

A new analysis published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR, Sept. 12, 2008) provides a more in-depth look at HIV incidence in specific U.S. populations. For the first time, CDC is able to provide detailed breakdowns of new HIV infections by race/ethnicity, 2 gender, route of transmission, and age. These findings will allow CDC and its partners to target HIV prevention efforts and to evaluate their impact with more precision than ever before.

The new analysis underscores the severe impact of HIV among gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities, African Americans, and Hispanics. It also shows us that, within these groups, the impact is most severe among young black gay and bisexual men, white gay and bisexual men in their 30s and 40s, and black women.

To read the CDC fact sheet, CLICK HERE.