CDC Needs More $$$ to Fight HIV

CDC officials on Tuesday at a House Government Reform and Oversight Committee hearing said they would need an additional $4.8 billion dollars over the next five years to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections in the U.S. As many of you may know, the CDC released a study last month that found that about 56,300 new HIV infections occur annually in the U.S.

Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, told the committee that although the additional amount of money requested is high, it could reduce the HIV transmission rate by 50% over 12 years. Although the $4.8 billion request is a significant amount of money, it would be more expensive not to treat HIV, Fauci said. Each HIV infection costs more than $1 million in treatment and lost productivity and that if CDC can prevent 4,800 new infections over five years, the programs established with increased funding would be "cost saving to society."

Now, how much is that Wall Street bailout again?