Re: HIV epidemic in U.S. worse than previously thought, CDC says

For many of us, especially those who have been doing this work longer than I have, I am in a complicated space with this information, but at the same time I am clear about my perspective on the magnitude of the over-arching issue of HIV/AIDS in our country. At this point, I am not certain that an answer lies in participating in the "blame game" which only distorts the reality of the issue and con volutes the process to a solution further. At this point, I believe that this battle needs to be fought on several different fronts.

Community; it is vitally important that we truly actualize our power in this epidemic, with the knowledge and understanding that the power to effectively change the playing field thus eliminating conventional methods for addressing HIV/AIDS in the communities that are hardest hit by this epidemic. If I can be frank, as a Black Gay Man when I look in to my mirror every morning when I wake......I see........a Black Gay Man. I do in fact have my own set of concerns and experiences, as such, its important that my concerns and experiences are being valued not only through political legislation, but also research, and program model development.

Political Entities; it is very important that you understand that you play a key role in the effective representation of community; and not just your constituent base. As Dr. King once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"; and this is couldn't be truer today than it was when he wrote those words from a jail cell decades ago.

This problem is not going to just "go away". The failure to acknowledge the true impact of this epidemic, in part, contributes to its continued effects on our society today; much like racism and privilege.

In the interim, my hope and prayer is that each and every single one of you seizes the opportunity to love yourself each day more than you did the day before.

I found this piece online and I believe that its so very relevant to this discussion, as well as the plight of our community:

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Part Of The Process
Feeling Stuck

When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear.

If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.

In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.

HIV epidemic in U.S. worse than previously thought, CDC says

HIV epidemic in U.S. worse than previously thought, CDC says
From the Los Angeles Times:
August 3, 2008

Based on new testing methods, the CDC says there are actually about 56,300 new infections a year -- not 40,000 -- and that rate has been fairly constant for a decade.

By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Federal officials have been underestimating the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 40% every year for more than a decade, a finding that indicates the U.S. epidemic is much worse than thought, researchers said Saturday.

Using sophisticated testing to identify new infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that there are about 56,300 new infections each year, not the 40,000 figure that has been gospel for so long.

The new numbers do not mean that the epidemic is growing in this country, just that researchers have been able to provide more accurate estimates, said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. He said the number of new infections has remained relatively constant since the late 1990s.

Still, the higher estimates were a jarring reminder that the United States, while castigating prevention efforts in much of the world, has not been able to get a firm grip on its own problems.

The new numbers "reveal that the U.S. epidemic is -- and has been -- worse than previously estimated and serve as a wake-up call for all Americans," said Richard Wolitski, acting director of the division of HIV/AIDS prevention at the national center.

"With more people living with HIV than ever before, there are more opportunities for transmission," and the need for prevention has never been greater, he said.

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, called the new figures "a scathing indictment of how profoundly U.S. and CDC HIV prevention efforts have failed."

"There is absolutely no good news here. Without an accurate picture of the epidemic, vastly underestimated for the last 10 years, we have missed countless opportunities to intervene with effective public health strategies," he said.

While the epidemic has remained stable for most of this decade, the new figures confirm that the brunt of the epidemic is being borne by gay men and young African Americans and Latinos. There have been small declines among heterosexuals and injectable-drug users.

Gay men accounted for 53% of new infections in 2006, the most recent year for which data are available. The infection rate among blacks was seven times that among whites, and the rate among Latinos was nearly three times as high.

Fenton said blacks are more disproportionately affected than any other racial or ethnic group in the country. In fact, he said, gay and bisexual black men "are one of the most severely impacted groups in the world."

He attributed the increase in this group to poverty, lack of access to healthcare, substance abuse, incarceration and a rise in other sexually transmitted diseases.

"If you are a young, gay black man, the likelihood that you will encounter HIV is staggeringly high, even if your personal behavior is no more risky than people in other communities," said Mark McLaurin, a board member of the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project.

The new data "confirm that AIDS in America is a black disease and has been neglected for far too long," said Phill Wilson, founder and chief executive of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles.

The CDC said that about 1 million to 1.1 million Americans are currently HIV-positive.

But epidemiologist and AIDS expert Philip Alcabes of Hunter College of the City University of New York contends that the new numbers indicate there are about 225,000 more HIV cases in the U.S. than the CDC estimates.

A CDC spokesman rejected his contention, however, saying that the total number of infections is calculated using a different method, and its figure remains accurate.

More than 15,000 Americans die of AIDS each year.

The new data will be formally unveiled today at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City and published later this week in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

The CDC has been widely criticized for not releasing the new numbers sooner. Fenton acknowledged that the figures had been available since November, but he said the agency delayed releasing them until they had been accepted for publication.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, said the paper had been heavily revised during the peer-review process and that she had much more confidence in the findings as a result.

Some critics suspect the results were delayed to avoid embarrassing the Bush administration, which has shrunk the CDC's prevention budget by 19% in current dollars since 2002, according to Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills).

"This administration continues to insist on funding ineffective abstinence-only programs that are failing to equip our children with the skills and knowledge necessary to protect themselves," Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said.

The new estimates are certain to bring calls for increased spending to combat the epidemic. Even at the old estimate of 40,000 new infections per year, nongovernmental organizations were calling for the United States, which spends $700 million annually on prevention efforts, to boost that figure by at least $300 million.

On Wednesday, President Bush approved $39 billion to fight AIDS around the world, nearly triple the $15 billion spent over the previous five years.

"The United States can be proud of . . . its remarkable commitment to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic," said Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes, director of AIDS research at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "These new figures from CDC demonstrate that the domestic epidemic needs a similar response."

Since the AIDS epidemic began in 1981, the actual incidence in the United States -- and globally -- has been a matter of controversy. The problem was that researchers used "by guess and by golly" techniques to extrapolate overall HIV numbers from limited data.

In the case of the world numbers, better data led to a recent downward revision, a 40% decline to about 2.5 million new infections each year and a total of about 33 million people living with the virus.

In the past, U.S. figures for HIV were extrapolated from the number of newly diagnosed AIDS cases. But as better treatments have lowered the number of people progressing to full-blown AIDS, those estimates have become more iffy, experts said.

The new numbers rely on newer testing methods that allow technicians to determine whether an HIV infection occurred in the last five months or is an older infection. More states have also begun reporting newly diagnosed HIV infections as well as new AIDS cases.

"These data, which are based on new laboratory technology developed by the CDC, provide the clearest picture to date of the U.S. HIV epidemic, and unfortunately, we are far from winning the battle against this preventable disease," the CDC's Gerberding said.

Using the new estimates for 2006, researchers also reanalyzed the historical data. They concluded that the number of new infections peaked at about 150,000 per year in the mid-1980s, then declined to about 50,000 per year in the early 1990s.

By the end of that decade, the numbers had climbed back up to the current level of about 56,000 and have remained fairly constant ever since, they found.

thomas.maugh@latimes.com

GEORGIA: "AIDS Finds a Hidden Niche in Georgia"

GEORGIA: "AIDS Finds a Hidden Niche in Georgia"
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (08.17.08):: Craig Schneider

The number of Georgians with HIV/AIDS leaped almost 27 percent from 2004 to 2007, reaching a cumulative total of 32,740 people, the state Division of Public Health reported recently. And those infected are increasingly younger, rural, black or female, and harder to reach with services and prevention messages, say health officials and advocates.

Homophobia in rural and black communities has often kept HIV/AIDS out of churches and schools, according to advocates, and disease-related prejudice still persists. Prevention messages geared to white, urban gay men do not resonate with rural and African-American audiences, they note.

In 2006, 71 percent of Georgians with HIV/AIDS were black, though African Americans account for about 30 percent of the state's population. Of the newly diagnosed, 79 percent were African American.

Silence, shame, and stigma are an "unholy trinity" preventing many African Americans from getting screened for HIV, said the Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

A 39-year-old HIV-positive southwest Atlanta man, Hartsel Shirley, said fear of being exposed kept him from seeking care. "If you're black and a gay man, you're not even looked at as a man," Shirley said. "If you have HIV, you're almost not human."

Reaching gay men in rural areas, where they have few public gathering places, is so difficult that Lola Thomas, executive director of the Cartersville nonprofit AIDS Alliance of Northwest Georgia, virtually gave up trying. "We've stayed away from gay and bisexual men," she said. "They're much more difficult to target." The group focuses more on emergency assistance, financial help, transportation, and counseling.

Barack Obama's VP Choice- Delaware's Democratic Senator Joe Biden

Wow!

If there hasn't already been an exciting time in this campaign, surely that time is now! I am excited to hear about the Honorable Senator from Delaware who just joined Obama's ticket to the White House. For those who are unaware of Joe Biden's contributions to the Democratic party and America, please visit his page here.

Below is a video that is circulating by Joe Biden on how he intends to work for change alongside of Barack Obama.

House of Blahnik Scholarship Fund Update

Dear House/Ballroom Community;

This is the 2nd year of the House of Blahnik Scholarship Initiative. As many of you know, our first year resulted in awarding Ajay Balenciaga a scholarship to Morehouse; which he went on to graduate in may of 2008. Additionally, we gave a supplemental award to Boi Boi St. Clair.

We are very committed to education and ensuring that members of the house/ball community are afforded such an opportunity. We are proud of our continued vision to strengthen the lives of ballroom patrons/participants through our scholarship program.

This year, we are very disappointed; as the applications that have been received for the 2008-2009 scholarship have been incomplete and poorly written. To achieve our mission, we first need to resolve this matter in a manner that we believe best benefits our community. We offer the following resolution:

1. To resolicit the scholarship opportunity; by extending the application deadline to October 31st, 2008; with awards made within 30 days;

2. To provide technical assistance to those who are interested in applying, but may need additional assistance in completing the application and required materials;

We want to emphasize that this scholarship program benefits our community, and we are very committed to ensuring that members of our community continue to have access to educational opportunities through utilization of this program.

We welcome any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. If you should be interested in applying for the scholarship, need technical assistance to complete the materials, or have any general questions, please visit us at our website: www.houseofblahnik.com or email us at: houseofblahnik@yahoo.com.


In Solidarity,

Stephaun Elite Manolo Blahnik
National Board Member
The Undeniable House of Blahnik

*****************************************************

Stephaun Clipper-Wallace
Community Activist-Health Educator-Empowerment Specialist

www.stephaunelite.com
www.myspace.com/christianelite
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/southeast_ballroom_scene

"There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself -whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else." -Audre Lorde

Support Balanced Energy Policy

You'd think we would have learned a big lesson from the energy policies of the 1970s and '80s, which led to higher prices and long lines at the pump. But some members of Congress are proposing that we bring those policies back! At a time when we need as many energy resources as we can get, they're actually suggesting that we do things like limit domestic production and mandate reduced consumption. It just doesn't make sense...and Congress needs to know that.

I made sure my legislators know exactly how I feel about these potentially damaging proposals. I took action here, and I urge you to do the same. It just takes a minute, but it can change the future of energy for America. Please visit and take action today.

Perspective:

Short term solutions - quick fixes - merely up the ante for implementing long term solutions. Without the intestinal fortitude to create coherent policy that responsibly grapples with the fact that we are killing our planet with rampant fossil fuel consumption, we come up with palliative quick fixes that exacerbate the problem (destruction of the ecosystem upon which humans depend for survival) and pass off to future generations (?) the burden of arriving at long-term solutions. Where has gone the discussion about investment in non-fossil fuel mass transit infrastructure? Limiting our consideration of the “issue” to pro and con positions on “responsible” off-shore drilling (now there is an oxymoron for you) is a disservice to intelligent public discourse. Of course, intelligent public discourse and a little violent rebellion from time to time were thought by at least one founding father to be essential to maintaining a healthy and vibrant republic. Old Thomas was not so dumb; methinks, at least about public discourse. (Have you noticed how warm it has been lately, in planetary terms?)

To conscientiously live energy conscious is a compelling lesson in humility, a strange posture for many Americans. We have treated energy like food and can afford to do so no longer. (Did you know that people starving in other countries cannot wrap around their brains the idea that Americans actually have surgery to prevent over consumption of food?) If higher fuel prices lead to increased fuel efficiency in motor vehicles, investment in alternative energy research and production and investment in non-fossil fuel mass transit infrastructure, this is a good thing for consumers and the environment. Now, if only those with the most to gain from the present trajectory could be convinced. See why old Thomas was so wise?

The problem we face is dependency – fixation - on fossil fuels for energy. That we are dependent on foreign oil is another problem. (Did you know that Canada imports to the USA more oil than Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and a few other Kingdoms put together? Did you know that the process of extracting Canadian “sand” crude is about as harmful to the environment as it gets? Sand crude production is to oil what strip mining is to coal. Dependency on fossil fuels is the controlling factor that drives exploration and production. Fossil fuel investment and dependency leads to a dead end (a planet inhospitable to human life). That we behave the way we do, as a species, with overwhelming indications of the inexorable consequences of our behavior, is truly astounding, perhaps a subject for study in abnormal sociology.

Conneticut Legislator Hired as Deputy Director of NBJC

The National Black Justice Coalition, the national civil rights organization targeting the issues and agenda for the LGBTQ communities of color just hired Connecticut State Representative Jason Bartlett (D-2). Click here for more.

"Elite" HIV wife may hold secret to AIDS vaccine

"Elite" HIV wife may hold secret to AIDS vaccine
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Tue Aug 12, 4:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A woman who has never shown symptoms of infection with the AIDS virus may hold the secret to defeating the virus, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. Infected at least 10 years ago by her husband, the woman is able somehow to naturally control the deadly and incurable virus -- even though her husband must take cocktails of strong HIV drugs to control his.

Presidential Candidates on the Issues

How Presidential Candidates Measure Up

Global AIDS Prevention Gives Short Shrift to Gays

GLOBAL: "Global AIDS Prevention Gives Short Shrift to Gays"
Associated Press (08.09.08):: Julie Watson

Although HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) are rising in many countries, UNAIDS figures show that in 2006, less than 1 percent of the $669 million spent globally on HIV prevention targeted these men. This is the smallest proportion of money targeting any at-risk population. Many MSM insist they are not gay, and many governments deny the existence of homosexuality.

During the opening ceremony of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on other countries "to follow Mexico's bold example and pass laws against homophobia." In 2003, Mexico banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, and it has opened clinics labeled homophobia-free. A national ad campaign includes radio spots in which mothers talk about accepting their gay sons.

Jorge Saavedra, who is HIV-positive and heads Mexico's AIDS prevention program, publicly declared his homosexuality for the first time at the conference, drawing loud applause from attendees. His department has earmarked 10 percent of its $12 million budget toward HIV prevention among MSM.

Data from 128 countries collected by the American Foundation for AIDS Research show that MSM are 19 times more likely to be HIV-infected than the general population. In Mexico, MSM are 109 times more likely to be infected. Kevin Frost, the foundation's CEO, said Thailand - for years lauded as an example for its massive condom-promotion efforts - is now seeing among MSM "an emerging epidemic of really unbelievable proportions." HIV prevalence among Thai MSM is now more than 15 percent, compared to 1.4 percent in the general population.

"This fight needs to be driven by epidemiologists," not only for the sake of human rights, but for the sake of public health, said Chris Beyrer, director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins University. "It's a virus, so you need to put the money where the virus is," he said.

New York HIV Cases Underreported

NEW YORK: "New York HIV Cases Underreported"
Newsday (Melville) (08.05.08):: Delthia Ricks

Based on CDC's revised estimate of HIV incidence in the United States, there were 6,200 more HIV cases in New York state in 2006 than previously thought, state health officials recently said. The CDC report, based on more accurate data and direct testing that distinguished recent from long-term infections, showed the previous US incidence estimate was too low by about 40 percent. Nationwide, there were 56,300 new HIV infections in 2006, the agency said.

"This new method for estimating the number of new HIV cases provides us with an important tool for better understanding and tracking the number of people infected with HIV," Dr. Richard F. Daines, the state health commissioner, said in a statement. "Our state continues to be heavily impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through December 2006, New York reported 176,008 cumulative AIDS cases, more than any other state. Approximately 80 percent of new cases are among people of color."

In Suffolk County, there have been 439 new HIV diagnoses so far this year, up from 422 last year and 402 in 2006. Nassau County has reported 52 new diagnoses so far this year and 79 last year, down from 113 in 2006.

In May, the state reported that 70 percent of residents living with HIV are over age 40, and many are facing the burdens of a challenging economy. "What we've been seeing is an increase in the amount of services that people are looking for," such as food aid and clothing, said Karen Ross, chief program officer at the Long Island Association for AIDS Care. "We think that has to do with what is going on in the economy."

Efforts to Stem AIDS Increase Get Failing Grade from Activists

UNITED STATES: "Efforts to Stem AIDS Increase Get Failing Grade from Activists"
Palm Beach Post (08.07.08):: Antigone Barton

AIDS activists are mulling the ramifications of CDC's revised estimates of HIV incidence in the United States, which found that 40 percent more people were newly infected each year than was previously believed. Though the report showed a roughly stable US epidemic since the late 1990s, men who have sex with men (MSM) represented a significantly greater proportion of estimated new infections, CDC said.

When CDC released the report in Mexico City at the 17th International AIDS Conference, some attendees staged a protest, holding aloft large "F" banners and posters, the grade they said the United States deserves for failing to slow its epidemic.

Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, noted that incidence among MSM had steadily increased since the early 1990s. "It doesn't have to be this way," Fenton said. Among the more than 1 million Americans with HIV, one-quarter are unaware of their infection, representing a "tremendous unmet need," he said.

Based on the more accurate data, CDC estimated there were 56,300 new HIV infections in 2006. In response, Fenton said CDC will expand HIV testing; work to engage people in communities at risk; develop a "strategic road map"; and create a national plan to fight the epidemic.

A national plan, activists said, should include ending abstinence-only sex education in favor of comprehensive school-based programs; lifting the federal funding ban on needle exchange programs; and ending the ban on HIV-positive immigrants and visitors.

New Ad Campaign from GMHC

Read about this powerful campaign and view other images at
http://brothaluvacafe.blogspot.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rod 2.0 Exclusive: Dismissal, Lawsuit and Investigations Prompt Cancellation of NYC Black Pride

http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2008/07/rod-20-exclusiv.html

A Conversation: Frank Mizrahi & Father Michael Mugler

http://brooklynboyblues.blogspot.com/2006/03/frank-mizrahi-and-michael-mugler.html#comments

Presidential Candidates Respond to CDC Report

Candidates' responses to CDC study reveal vastly different levels of commitment
From: www.blackaidsinstitute.org


Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain both responded to this weekend's news that the U.S. AIDS epidemic is 40 percent larger than previously believed with statements vowing to take action against the epidemic. The Black AIDS Institute is heartened to know that both candidates are at least paying attention to this spiraling epidemic-a far cry from previous elections.

However, these statements again make clear that Sen. McCain has a long way to go to earn the votes of those who care about HIV/AIDS in America. While Sen. Obama repeated his pledge to draft and implement America's first national HIV/AIDS strategy, Sen. McCain again offered no specific commitments or proposals for how he will deal with the epidemic. He merely vows to "work closely" with all stakeholders.

Sadly, this seeming disinterest in the epidemic is not new for Sen. McCain. His record on AIDS vacillates between total disengagement and reactionary cant.

In fall 2007, the Black AIDS Institute joined a handful of AIDS watchdogs in reviewing all candidates' records and statements on AIDS. Sen. McCain's campaign has not to date offered a detailed AIDS platform. During his decades in the Senate, he has not meaningfully participated in AIDS policy formation other than to support poorly thought out bills that stigmatize people living with HIV.

Voters considering supporting Sen. McCain must demand that he take this epidemic more seriously and articulate meaningful proposals and specific commitments for dealing with it.

Sen. Obama, on the other hand, has vowed in his AIDS platform and in subsequent statements like yesterday's to draft a national strategy for dealing with the domestic epidemic. America wisely requires countries seeking foreign aid for their AIDS programs to first have a national plan of action, yet we have never had one of our own.

Sen. Obama's pledge is a welcome commitment. And should he become president we must all hold him accountable for following through on that commitment.

TEXT OF OBAMA AND MCCAIN STATEMENTS

Sen. Obama's statement:

"We have now learned that 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006, not 40,000 that had been previously cited. These new figures should bring new focus to our efforts to address AIDS and HIV here at home.

"As president, I am committed to developing a National AIDS Strategy to decrease new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Across the nation, we also need to prevent the spread of HIV and get people into treatment by expanding access to testing and comprehensive education programs. This report also demonstrates the need for more timely data about HIV transmission so that we can effectively evaluate prevention efforts.

"Combating HIV/AIDS also demands closing the gaps in opportunity that exist in our society so that we can strengthen our public health. We must also overcome the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS - a stigma that is too often tied to homophobia. We need to encourage folks to get tested and accelerate HIV/AIDS research toward an effective cure because we have a moral obligation to join together to meet this challenge, and to do so with the urgency this epidemic demands."

Sen. McCain's statement:

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday announced that in 2006 there were 56,300 new HIV infections in United States -- significantly higher than the previous estimate of 40,000 cases. More than a million Americans live with this devastating disease. As President, I will work closely with non-profit, government, and private sector stakeholders to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. By focusing efforts on reducing drug costs through greater market competition, promoting prevention efforts, encouraging testing, targeting communities with high infection rates, strengthening research and reducing disparities through effective public outreach, we as a nation can make great progress in fighting HIV/AIDS."


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The Black AIDS Institute is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization with a mission to end the AIDS pandemic in Black communities. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy.
In the Black community, HIV/AIDS is the third leading cause of death amongst children, women and men aged 25-35; and the leading cause of death amongst women aged 24-34. As HIV/AIDS continues to devastate Black populations across our country, Heroes in the Struggle, our portrait exhibit and annual gala, gives us the opportunity to showcase examples of heroism from within our communities.

For opportunities to join us and support our Fundraising or Special Events, please visit our website at www.BlackAIDS. org or contact Jasmine Burnett at 213-353-3610 extension 116.

CDC Announces New US HIV Incidence Rates

August 2, 2008


Dear Colleague:

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released the first HIV incidence estimates from a new national surveillance system-the first of its kind in the world that is based on direct measurement of new HIV infections. Monitoring trends in HIV incidence (the number of new infections in a given year) in the United States has historically posed a challenge, in part, because many HIV infections are not diagnosed until years after they occur-which has made it difficult to precisely identify and clearly define the leading edge of the epidemic.

The release of these new incidence estimates is a significant sentinel event in the HIV/AIDS epidemic because the clarity this system provides means we now have much more information about the current status of the epidemic. In coming years, this new system will provide trend information that will allow us to better monitor the course of the epidemic and assess the impact of our nation's HIV prevention efforts. The use of this new CDC-developed technology makes the following possible: (1) better targeting of prevention programs, (2) more precision with which to measure and evaluate progress, and (3) more specific information to inform resource allocation decisions.

The estimates from our nation's new HIV incidence surveillance system reveal that the U.S. epidemic is-and has been-worse than previously estimated and serve as a wake-up call for all Americans. Using the new technology called Serological Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) that distinguishes recent from longstanding HIV infections, CDC estimates that 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006. Prior to the availability of STARHS, CDC previously estimated that approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occurred annually since the 1990s. It is important to note that the 2006 estimate does not represent an actual increase in the annual number of new infections; rather, a separate CDC historical trend analysis published alongside the incidence estimate suggests that the number of new HIV infections was never as low as 40,000 and has been roughly stable since the early 2000s. Even though the analysis shows overall stability in new HIV infections in recent years, the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains at an unacceptably high level.

The 2006 HIV incidence estimates show:
* Gay and bisexual men of all races remain the group most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 53% of all new infections.
* The impact of HIV is greater among blacks than any other racial or ethnic group, with an HIV incidence rate that is 7 times higher than that of whites (83.7/100,000 for blacks compared to 11.5/100,000 for whites) and almost 3 times higher than that of Latinos (29.3/100,000).

Overall, levels of HIV infection in the U.S. are too high and have been increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) since the early 1990s. The HIV epidemic must not continue on its current course. With more people living with HIV than ever before, there are more opportunities for transmission; however, the number of new infections has remained relatively stable. The estimates indicate that HIV infections have been relatively stable to declining among people who inject drugs, women of all races, and high-risk heterosexuals. While this is an important sign of success, the new estimates underscore the need to accelerate progress.

We have significant evidence that prevention works. HIV counseling and testing reduce risk behaviors and help link persons living with HIV to medical care and treatment. Behavioral and social interventions significantly reduce risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections among at-risk and HIV-infected persons. The effectiveness of HIV prevention has been repeatedly shown in multiple scientific reviews.

The stability in new HIV infections indicates that prevention efforts are reaching many individuals living with HIV/AIDS and that most are taking steps to protect themselves and their partners. But the fact remains that many populations at risk are not being reached by our prevention efforts, and much more must be done. For example, recent data indicate that in the past year, 80% of MSM have not been reached by the intensive interventions we know to be most effective. This illustrates one of the many challenges to preventing the spread of this disease-the challenge of reaching new generations while adapting to the evolving epidemic. Perceptions of risk and treatment options change over time, and we must work together to ensure that prevention barriers such as complacency, stigma, and substance abuse do not allow this disease to continue to flourish. Additionally, far too many undiagnosed individuals remain-25% of persons living with HIV are unaware of their status and account for more than half of all new HIV infections.

These findings serve as a wake-up call for the United States. They underscore the need to reach all populations at risk for HIV with effective prevention programs and serve as an urgent reminder that we all-as individuals, communities, and as a nation-need to do more to prevent the further spread of HIV and its devastating effects on our communities.

For more information on the 2006 HIV incidence estimates including CDC's podcasts, frequently asked questions and answers, fact sheets, and related surveillance information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/incidence.htm.

Thank you for all you do in support of HIV prevention.


Sincerely,

Richard Wolitski, Ph.D.
Acting Director,
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention