1 Million U.S. AIDS Cases

AIDS Retrospective Slideshow

CDC Says More Than Half of New HIV/AIDS Cases Are Among African-Americans

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

Feb. 19, 2009 -- AIDS has now struck more than 1 million Americans, the CDC's latest HIV/AIDS numbers show.

As of 2007, there were 455,636 Americans living with AIDS. In the 34 states that report HIV infections, there were 571,378 Americans living with HIV or AIDS at the end of 2007.

In 2007 -- for the first time -- more than half (51%) of new HIV/AIDS cases were among African-Americans. Blacks represent 13% of the U.S. population, yet 48% of Americans living with HIV or AIDS are black.

Some other numbers from the CDC's annual report:

• Women accounted for 27% of adult and teen AIDS cases diagnosed in 2007.
• From 2003 to 2007, deaths of Americans with AIDS decreased by 17%.
• 20% of people living with AIDS are 40 to 44 years old -- the highest percentage of any age group.
• Among men living with AIDS or HIV, 64% were infected by male-to-male sexual contact.
• 40% of people living with AIDS reside in the South; 29% in the Northeast, 20% in the West, and 11% in the Midwest.

The data appear in the CDC's annual HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report.

SOURCES: CDC: "HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report," vol 19, Feb. 18, 2009.

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