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US HIV rate 'higher than thought' US HIV rate 'higher than thought'
(about 1 hour 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 Mixed results in Aids battleHIV/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 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's Richard Wolitski said the 2006 incidence estimate "reveals that the epidemic is, and has been, worse than previously estimated".
"This is the most reliable estimate we've had since the beginning of the epidemic," said CDC director Julie Gerberding. The group 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.
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 CDC described the findings as a "wake-up call that the US HIV/Aids epidemic is far from over".
"The new estimates underscore the need to expand access to HIV prevention to gay and bisexual men, especially younger men, and to expand access to African-American men and women as well," Dr Wolitski added.
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.