Twenty-Five Years of HIV/AIDS --- United States, 1981--2006
Despite these successes, several challenges remain. HIV/AIDS continues to be a leading cause of illness and death in the United States. An estimated 252,000--312,000 HIV-infected persons in the United States are unaware of their HIV infection (
2). Not only are they at high risk for transmitting HIV to others, but they are much less likely to take advantage of effective medical treatments.
Certain subpopulations remain at increased risk. MSM account for approximately 45% of newly reported HIV/AIDS diagnoses and nearly 54% of cumulative AIDS diagnoses (
10,11). A recent survey indicated that in several large U.S. cities, approximately one in four MSM surveyed in social venues is infected with HIV, and nearly 50% of MSM are unaware of their HIV infections (
12).
Moreover, young MSM were least likely to know they were infected, and MSM from racial/ethnic minority populations consistently demonstrated higher prevalence than white MSM. AnnualHIV incidence among MSM is high, ranging from 1.2% to 8.0% (
12). Racial and ethnic minority communities also are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS (
13).
During 2001--2004, in 35 areas with HIV reporting, 51% of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses were among blacks, who account for approximately 13% of the U.S. population (
14). Of these, 11% (12,650) of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in men were in black men who were infected through heterosexual contact, and 54% (23,820) of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in women were in black women infected through heterosexual contact. Today, women account for approximately one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and, in 2002, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for black women aged 25--34 years
