HIV Infection Rate Among U.S. Blacks Doubles

[Gold9472]

HIV infection rate among U.S. blacks doubles
Cases among whites hold steady, highlighting growing racial gap

The Associated Press
Updated: 5:27 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2005

BOSTON - The HIV infection rate has doubled among blacks in the United States over a decade while holding steady among whites — stark evidence of a widening racial gap in the epidemic, government scientists said Friday.

Other troubling statistics indicate that almost half of all infected people in the United States who should be receiving HIV drugs are not getting them.

The findings were released in Boston at the 12th Annual Retrovirus Conference, the world’s chief scientific gathering on the disease.

'A burgeoning epidemic'
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” said Terje Anderson, director of the National Association of People With AIDS. “We just have a burgeoning epidemic in the African American community that is not being dealt with effectively.”

Researchers and AIDS prevention advocates attributed the high rate among blacks to such factors as drug addiction, poverty and poor access to health care.

The HIV rates were derived from the widely used National Health and Nutrition Examinations Surveys, which analyze a representative sample of U.S. households and contain the most complete HIV data in the country. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared 1988-1994 data with figures from 1999-2002.

The surveys look only at young and middle-aged adults who live in households, excluding such groups as soldiers, prisoners and homeless. Thus, health officials believe the numbers probably underestimate true HIV rates in this country.

Still, they show a striking rise in the prevalence of the AIDS virus from 1 percent to 2 percent of blacks. White rates held steady at 0.2 percent. Largely because of the increase among blacks, the overall U.S. rate rose slightly from 0.3 percent to 0.4 percent.

Smaller studies had shown rising infection rates among blacks in recent years, but this study takes a longer and more complete look at changes in the general population.

“I think it’s very concerning,” said Dr. Susan Buchbinder, who leads HIV research for the city of San Francisco. “I think what we need to look at is how we can reduce those rates and get more people into treatment.”

More focus on drug addiction needed
She recommended a stronger focus on treating drug addiction.

The lead CDC researcher, Geraldine McQuillan, said she was encouraged to see the HIV rate among younger blacks holding steady at just under 1.5 percent.

“It tells me we’re making some headway,” she said.

Other national data and published reports studied by the CDC showed that 480,000 HIV-infected people ages 15 to 49 should have been getting antiviral drugs in 2003, yet only 268,000, or 56 percent, were given such medication.

Researcher Eyasu Teshale of the CDC said the gap represents “a substantial unmet health care need.”

Treatment is widely viewed as a central component in prevention. Powerful AIDS drugs that came into wide use in the mid-1990s can knock down levels of the virus in the body, reducing the chances that the patient will infect others.

Nearly 1 million people in the United States have contracted the AIDS virus since the outbreak began in the early 1980s. About 40,000 people test positive each year, and more than 18,000 die. However, U.S. infections have remained fairly level in recent years with the use of powerful HIV drugs.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Giggles]

HIV infection rate among U.S. blacks doubles
Cases among whites hold steady, highlighting growing racial gap

The Associated Press
Updated: 5:27 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2005

BOSTON - The HIV infection rate has doubled among blacks in the United States over a decade while holding steady among whites — stark evidence of a widening racial gap in the epidemic, government scientists said Friday.

Other troubling statistics indicate that almost half of all infected people in the United States who should be receiving HIV drugs are not getting them.

The findings were released in Boston at the 12th Annual Retrovirus Conference, the world’s chief scientific gathering on the disease.

'A burgeoning epidemic'
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” said Terje Anderson, director of the National Association of People With AIDS. “We just have a burgeoning epidemic in the African American community that is not being dealt with effectively.”

Researchers and AIDS prevention advocates attributed the high rate among blacks to such factors as drug addiction, poverty and poor access to health care.

The HIV rates were derived from the widely used National Health and Nutrition Examinations Surveys, which analyze a representative sample of U.S. households and contain the most complete HIV data in the country. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared 1988-1994 data with figures from 1999-2002.

The surveys look only at young and middle-aged adults who live in households, excluding such groups as soldiers, prisoners and homeless. Thus, health officials believe the numbers probably underestimate true HIV rates in this country.

Still, they show a striking rise in the prevalence of the AIDS virus from 1 percent to 2 percent of blacks. White rates held steady at 0.2 percent. Largely because of the increase among blacks, the overall U.S. rate rose slightly from 0.3 percent to 0.4 percent.

Smaller studies had shown rising infection rates among blacks in recent years, but this study takes a longer and more complete look at changes in the general population.

“I think it’s very concerning,” said Dr. Susan Buchbinder, who leads HIV research for the city of San Francisco. “I think what we need to look at is how we can reduce those rates and get more people into treatment.”

More focus on drug addiction needed
She recommended a stronger focus on treating drug addiction.

The lead CDC researcher, Geraldine McQuillan, said she was encouraged to see the HIV rate among younger blacks holding steady at just under 1.5 percent.

“It tells me we’re making some headway,” she said.

Other national data and published reports studied by the CDC showed that 480,000 HIV-infected people ages 15 to 49 should have been getting antiviral drugs in 2003, yet only 268,000, or 56 percent, were given such medication.

Researcher Eyasu Teshale of the CDC said the gap represents “a substantial unmet health care need.”

Treatment is widely viewed as a central component in prevention. Powerful AIDS drugs that came into wide use in the mid-1990s can knock down levels of the virus in the body, reducing the chances that the patient will infect others.

Nearly 1 million people in the United States have contracted the AIDS virus since the outbreak began in the early 1980s. About 40,000 people test positive each year, and more than 18,000 die. However, U.S. infections have remained fairly level in recent years with the use of powerful HIV drugs.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I have to say this and no I'm not prejudice. That most African American's can't seem to control what is in their pants. Even if they could I don't think they really care about not spreading the disease by wearing condoms/protection of any kind. I think if they would be more abstient that would be even more safe. I don't know (in my mind I hear typical).

[somebigguy]

I agree, it's pretty damn obvious how to avoid HIV.

[unconstitutionalliberty]

I agree, it's pretty damn obvious how to avoid HIV.

I agree with both of you. Actually I have a theory that could solve all the worlds problems, but no one wants to hear it.

[Gold9472]

I agree with both of you. Actually I have a theory that could solve all the worlds problems, but no one wants to hear it.

Which is?

[Giggles]

I agree with both of you. Actually I have a theory that could solve all the worlds problems, but no one wants to hear it.

Yes do tell (all ears).

[unconstitutionalliberty]

Bomb 'em. Gets rid of all problems, though it is only theory. Not that death is the answer, its just the easiest fix.

[Gold9472]

I have to say this and no I'm not prejudice. That most African American's can't seem to control what is in their pants. Even if they could I don't think they really care about not spreading the disease by wearing condoms/protection of any kind. I think if they would be more abstient that would be even more safe. I don't know (in my mind I hear typical).

Giggles... dear... You can't say in your first sentence, "I'm not prejudice", and then proceed to say a blanket statement like "African Americans can't seem to control what is in their pants."

I happen to be caucasean, and I can safely say that I can no better or worse control what's in my pants than any black man.

I have thrown my dick on the craps table many a day. I am LUCKY to be clean.

Remember that next time...

[Giggles]

Giggles... dear... You can't say in your first sentence, "I'm not prejudice", and then proceed to say a blanket statement like "African Americans can't seem to control what is in their pants."

I happen to be caucasean, and I can safely say that I can no better or worse control what's in my pants than any black man.

I have thrown my dick on the craps table many a day. I am LUCKY to be clean.

Remember that next time...

Hon I didn't want to know that kind of information too much (blushes). Well tell me why am I always seeing these African American male/females on t.v. reproducing like bunnies and trying to find all their kids fathers. I swear I see more of them on t.v. then I do whites. I also wrote a document a while back that specifically said that the number of _____ is on the rise. Ok never mind. I have my view you have your view. I respect your view, but hon please be more safe about your tube (blush).

[Gold9472]

Hon I didn't want to know that kind of information too much (blushes). Well tell me why am I always seeing these African American male/females on t.v. reproducing like bunnies and trying to find all their kids fathers. I swear I see more of them on t.v. then I do whites. I also wrote a document a while back that specifically said that the number of _____ is on the rise. Ok never mind. I have my view you have your view. I respect your view, but hon please be more safe about your tube (blush).

There are reasons for those numbers. Regardless of what people say about slavery being abolished, and that everyone is now considered "equal", there is still A LOT of racism left in this country.

It is harder for a black person to get a job than it is a white person.

I work in a small company, and in the time I've been there, we've had one black person. Since his departure, we have since hired several more people.

None have been _____.

They are forced to live in more impoverished societies than we are. In those impoverished societies, they are exposed to more of what you referred to than we are.