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US HIV rate 'higher than thought' | US HIV rate 'higher than thought' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The number of Americans infected with the HIV virus each year is much higher than current government estimates, US health officials have said. | The number of Americans infected with the HIV virus each year is much higher than current government estimates, US health officials have said. |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 56,000 people had become infected with the virus that causes Aids in 2006. | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 56,000 people had become infected with the virus that causes Aids in 2006. |
That is substantially more than the earlier annual estimate of 40,000. | That is substantially more than the earlier annual estimate of 40,000. |
However, the CDC said the rise was due to improved detection methods, rather than an increase in infections. | However, the CDC said the rise was due to improved detection methods, rather than an increase in infections. |
For the first time, new blood tests can tell how recently an HIV infection occurred, allowing researchers to pinpoint the year it happened. | For the first time, new blood tests can tell how recently an HIV infection occurred, allowing researchers to pinpoint the year it happened. |
The increase is also thought to be due to new statistical methods. | The increase is also thought to be due to new statistical methods. |
HIV/AIDS IN THE US 1.1 million people with HIV/Aids at end 200324%-27% unaware of being infected56,000 news cases in 200653% of new infections in 2006 occurred in gay and bisexual menAfrican American men and women were also strongly affected Source: CDC class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7537830.stm">Mixed results in Aids battle | |
The CDC added that the annual number of new infections was never as low as 40,000, and that it has been roughly stable since the late 1990s. | The CDC added that the annual number of new infections was never as low as 40,000, and that it has been roughly stable since the late 1990s. |
"This is the most reliable estimate we've had since the beginning of the epidemic," said CDC director Julie Gerberding. | "This is the most reliable estimate we've had since the beginning of the epidemic," said CDC director Julie Gerberding. |
In a statement, the CDC went on to say that the new estimates highlight the need for expanded HIV prevention services and "should serve as a wake-up call that the US HIV/Aids epidemic is far from over". | In a statement, the CDC went on to say that the new estimates highlight the need for expanded HIV prevention services and "should serve as a wake-up call that the US HIV/Aids epidemic is far from over". |
The executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial Aids Directors, Julie Scofield, told the Associated Press news agency: "This is the biggest news for public health and HIV/Aids that we've had in a while." | The executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial Aids Directors, Julie Scofield, told the Associated Press news agency: "This is the biggest news for public health and HIV/Aids that we've had in a while." |
The revised estimated and the methodology behind it are due to be presented at the opening day of an international Aids conference in Mexico City on Sunday. | The revised estimated and the methodology behind it are due to be presented at the opening day of an international Aids conference in Mexico City on Sunday. |