Posted on 12/02/2004 6:06:42 AM PST by presidio9
The number of newly diagnosed HIV and AIDS cases among gay and bisexual men grew 11% in the four-year period ending in 2003, raising fears of a new outbreak of the disease in a group experts said had become increasingly casual about taking protective measures.
The increase was offset by a decline in new cases among intravenous drug users, so the overall rate increased by 1% over the same period, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday on World AIDS Day.
The CDC estimates that about 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the U.S., and that between 850,000 and 950,000 Americans are living with the disease, with about 280,000 not knowing they are infected, said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, deputy director of the CDC's HIV prevention program. About 18,000 die of AIDS each year in the U.S.
The number of new infections has remained stable since the mid-1990s, when the burgeoning use of anti-HIV drugs lowered virus transmissions and death. But the mark is seen as a setback because the government had set the goal of cutting the rate of new infections in half by 2005.
"We have a ways to go before we reach [that] mark," Valdiserri said in a telephone briefing with reporters.
"It's simply unacceptable that so many people continue to be infected by this virus," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC.
Men who have sex with men bore the initial brunt of the AIDS epidemic and account for 44% of newly diagnosed cases, according to the new data. But complacency brought on by effective AIDS drugs and the time that had elapsed since the initial ravages of the epidemic had led to an increase in unsafe sex practices, officials said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Does this mean that the "Don't alter your behavior, just wear a condom" campaign is not working?
I'm so tired of the ads that claim that the spread of AIDS is caused by the public's "apathy". Somehow we are all at fault because we don't throw enough money at this problem. I do feel bad for the women and children who are infected in third world countries. If the blame was to be put on those who spread this disease and not the rest of the world, then that might be a first step toward stopping it.
GOOD!
It is rumored that celibate homosexuals have a far lower rate of incidence; conversely, that the abusive practice of sodomy seems to be a clear predictive indicator; even among trans gendered bisexual ACLU attorneys...
This is one ugly thread guys. I wouldn't wish AIDS on my worst enemy. Remember, love the sinner but hate the sin. It is sad that gays can't see the errors of their ways, but this news is nothing to cheer about.
---and if we'd quit subsidizing them through Medicare and assorted state welfare programs, the problem would solve itself -by death--
Why are the acts that men perform with other men called sex and not sodomy?
Think about it...I eat yummy junk food that I know is bad for me, and I am told that I am hopelessly selfish, that I am a dead weight on a thinly stretched medicial insurance industry, that I should have more control and act responsibly. Homsexuals do "what feels good" to them, and they are told that they were born that way, they cannot change, that the real culprit is the Evil Republicans who won't put every dollar the govenment takes from my pocket into inventing a magic bullet that will allow them to go right on doing what they want to do with no consequences.
What's the Kinsey lie...one in ten Americans are homosexual? But the TV (which never lies) tells me that 6 in ten Americans are overweight! Clearly, we should take six times the current funding in AIDS research and put it into developing salty, fatty snack foods that have no calories or fat so that I can go right on mistreating my body with no consequences! Hey, it's only fair!
Plese, STOP THE INSANITY!
Geez, ya'll some ignorant SOB's.
BREAKING NEWS: GAMBLERS SOMETIMES LOSE MONEY
AIDS is the ugliest disease I have ever seen in my lifetime. No one should have to suffer like that and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Even if you don't agree with the act, it's not good news.
You misunderstood the statement. It grew 11 percent. The actuall rate could be higher or lower.
What about a "sin tax" on sodomy to pay for AIDS-related healthcare? Supposedly, the tobacco lawsuits were all about paying for treatment of cancer victims - so how about taxing homosexuals everytime they engage in sodomy?
You're right. My bad. Thanks for pointing it out.
Well said. I mock the "blame the conservatives" mantra of the far lefties, but I don't think there's profit in sinking to their level of dialogue.
Just my opinion.
I agree that there have been some inappropriate responses to this article. A close childhood friend of mine was one of the disease's early vicitms back in the 80's (he was a hemophiliac who died at the age of 14) and I would not wish AIDS on my worst enemy. But the point is that this epidemic is entirely preventable, and until we grow up and admit what is actually causing it we are never going to solve the problem. For a sobering look at the reality of AIDS, please read This Post.
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