On Saturday August 2, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally acknowledged that it has been underreporting its data on HIV infections. This comes as no surprise to most HIV/AIDS advocates who have expressed concern about their annual estimates of approximately 40,000 new infections. The data shows that in 2006, an estimated 56,300 new HIV infections occurred – a number that is substantially higher than the previous estimate of 40,000 annual new infections, with estimates ranging between 55,000 and 58,500 during the three most recent time periods analyzed. The new estimates show that gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities and African American men and women are the groups most affected by HIV. African Americans, while comprising 13% of the US population, accounted for 45% of the new HIV infections in 2006. Other key statistics in the report state:
- That new infections among blacks are at a higher level than any other racial or ethnic group, with a rate that is seven (7) times the rate of whites.
- More infections incurred among people under the age of 30 (34%) than any other age group.
- One quarter (25%) of HIV-infected persons are unaware of their HIV infection. These individuals account for one-half (50%) of all new infections.
- Male to male sexual contact (MSM) accounted for 53% of the new infections.
Unfortunately the report does not go into detail about the impact on women of color, even though it is clear that minority, especially young minority, women have been severely impacted.
1 comment:
Proper reporting is very significant in controlling any disease. First, people will feel the impact of disease and plan protection when they know the rate of infection. Secondly, the government can be able to come up with policies to combat the disease when figures are not either exagurated or underestimated.
More awareness needs to be created to the minority groups who are also the most infected. I can easily assume that they dont know that they are most prone and need to check their sexual behaviour and use preventive measure against HIV if they much have sexual encounter.
With these and many more developments, the world will get ride of these and many other diseases that have affected the world for long.
Ntenga Moses, Uganda
www.joyforchildren.org
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