Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - November 26, 2003
Joseph B. Verrengia, AP Science Writer
"HIV is not over in the United States," said Robert Janssen, director HIV/AIDS prevention division for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The fight is as urgent as it was 20 years ago."
During 1999-2002, the CDC reported 18,843 men with new diagnoses of the virus that causes AIDS, an increase of 7.3 percent over the previous three-year period.
The CDC said the infection rate among heterosexuals and intravenous drug users did not change significantly. But the increase in HIV among gay men was worrisome.
Earlier this year, the agency launched a campaign repeating the safe sex message of condom use and discouraging needle-sharing. And, officials urged people at risk to be tested for HIV.
"To some extent, there is some prevention fatigue," Janssen said. "It's driven by a sense that HIV has become a chronic and treatable disease."
Among ethnic groups, Hispanics showed the largest increase of HIV cases at 26 percent, while HIV among whites increased by 8 percent.
Officials reported no significant increase in HIV infection among blacks or Asian-Americans. However, blacks continue to account 55 percent of all new HIV cases, even if their rate of infection has not increased.
Janssen said that while HIV remains primarily a black and Latino infection in the United States, the data shows lifestyle is more an issue than ethnicity.
The numbers came from 29 states participating in the analysis, but they did not include many of the largest states, including California, New York and Texas among others. Officials said more states gradually will be included in subsequent reports.
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