The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has released estimates of the number of new HIV infections in the United States — including new data for 2010 and trends in recent years. These latest incidence estimates, published online in CDC’s HIV Supplemental Surveillance Report, provide the most up to date picture of the U.S. HIV epidemic.
Key findings include:
Overall, the number of new HIV infections in the United States has remained stable at ~50,000 per year over the last decade. In 2010, there were 47,500 new infections.
This is the first CDC incidence report to show a statistically significant decline in new infections among African-American women (21 percent comparing 2008 to 2010). While additional years of data are needed, CDC is cautiously optimistic that this could be the beginning of a longer-term trend.
However, African-American women continue to represent the majority (64 percent) of new infections among women.
New infections among young gay and bisexual men (ages 13-24) continued to rise sharply (by 22 percent comparing 2008 to 2010). Young, black gay and bisexual men continue to bear the heaviest burden and now account for more new infections than any other subgroup — a total of 4,800 in 2010
Gay and bisexual men of all ages, races and ethnicities, African Americans, and Latinos continue to be most affected by the epidemic. Gay and bisexual men represent 2 percent of the U.S. population but a majority (63 percent) of new HIV infections, and the number of new infections in this group increased 12 percent comparing 2008 to 2010.
African Americans represent 14 percent of the U.S. population but almost half (44 percent) of new infections; the number of new infections remained stable comparing 2008 to 2010. Latinos represent 16 percent of the U.S. population but 21 percent of new infections; the number of new infections remained stable comparing 2008 to 2010.
The annual number of new infections in the United States has remained stable despite continued increases in the number of people living with HIV, indicating that HIV testing, treatment and prevention programs are making an important impact — but incidence still persists.
CDC and other officials say they expect to use the new estimates to focus HIV prevention efforts where the need is greatest, sustain the encouraging new decline in infections among African-American women, and continue to work toward the goal of an AIDS-free generation.
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