New H.I.V. Cases Drop, but Rise in Young Gay Men

New York Times ^ | January 2, 2008 | Sarah Kershaw

[reaganaut1]

...

The number of new H.I.V. infections in men under 30 who have sex with men has increased sharply in New York City in the last five years, particularly among blacks and Hispanics, even as AIDS deaths and overall H.I.V. infection rates in the city have steadily declined.

New figures from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show that the annual number of new infections among black and Hispanic men who have sex with men rose 34 percent between 2001 and 2006, and rose for all men under 30 who have sex with men by 32 percent.

At a time when the number of new cases among older gay men is dropping — by 22 percent in New York City during the same period — AIDS experts are bearing down on what they say is a worrisome and perplexing growth of H.I.V. infection among young men like Mr. Arriola.

So far, they say, the significant factors feeding the trend appear to be higher rates of drug use among younger men, which can fuel dangerous sex practices, optimism among them that AIDS can be readily treated, and a growing stigma about H.I.V. among gays that keeps some men from revealing that they are infected. There has also been a substantial increase in the number of new infection cases among young white men who have sex with men, but still that group had fewer new cases in 2006: 100, compared with 228 among blacks and 165 among Hispanics.

The rising rates for young men in New York City come as federal health officials acknowledge that infection rates nationwide, while flat, may be substantially higher than previously thought because of underreporting.

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

Oh boy. When I refreshed this thread, the banner "ad" at the top for the Freepathon was the one with the smiley face that says: "Imagine there's no liberals."

Imagine what a lefty would do with THAT juxtaposition! ROFLOL.

Hank

[elpadre]

“At a time when the number of new cases among older gay men is dropping — by 22 percent in New York City during ...”

Could it possibly be that the older ones have passed on and the numbers of new cases caused by the older HIV population then would be less.

[caveat emptor]

What kind of drugs are they on that causes both sodomy and optimism about treatment.

Poppers?

[Humble Servant]

Smacked it on the noggin, AR.

I’m sick of these people moaning and wailing and blaming Rebublicans for the consequences of their own perverse promiscuity and narcissistic sensationalist nihilist crap. Go screw five different strange guys a week, and you’re probably going to get AIDS. I’m not. And it won’t be my fault that they do.

[skeptoid]

Anally Inserted Death Sentence

[CGTRWK]

“At a time when the number of new cases among older gay men is dropping — by 22 percent in New York City during ...”

Could it possibly be that the older ones have passed on and the numbers of new cases caused by the older HIV population then would be less.

No. These are new infection statistics. By the time homosexuals get old, the promiscuous individuals are long since infected and don't show up as new infections.

[dfwgator]

But it’s not a gay disease. /s

[murphE]

The male homosexual "lifestyle" is often a form of slow-motion suicide

To quote a good Catholic Bishop I know, "It's not a lifestyle it's a death style."

[Eagles6]

That’s disturbing. Ick!

[srmorton]

You have hit upon the precise reason for the spread of HIV among homosexual and bisexual males. Anatomically, the anus is NOT meant for sex! The epithelial lining of the anus is thin and tears very easily. In addition, there is only a thin layer of muscle supporting the entire alimentary canal. This makes it very easy for infection to occur. In contrast, the vagina is perfectly suited for receipt of the penis. It has a thick, strong muscular wall that is protected by several layers of epithelial cells, making it much more resistant to infection.

AIDS activists refuse to admit the truth. It is a disease that is behaviorally spread. Everyone is NOT equally likely to become infected. Those that do in most cases have had sexual contact with a member of one of two groups - bisexual males or IV drug users. The other possibility is that they, like me, have a job that has the potential to expose them to blood or body fluids and they fail to use universal precautions.

This is very different than the example illustrated recently by the airline passenger who was infected with TB. They are trying to contact all 41 passengers because they are all in danger of having contracted the infection since it is spread by aerosol inhalation. Had there been a passenger with HIV on the plane, the other passengers would have been in no danger whatsoever unless the patient started bleeding and a passenger allowed some of the blood to get into an open wound or into his mouth - not a very likely scenario.

[Secret Agent Man]

First, a gay guy with the name “Ariolla”...will wonders never cease.....

Second, DUH!

They just can’t kill themselves fast enough. If only they weren’t attention whores as well.

[Secret Agent Man]

Oh yeah, the first sentence also captures the other liberal mantra:

HIV not only hitting gays hardest, but gay minorities are even harder hit.

Do the libs even bother to read this stuff before they type this crap up? Why is this even news? To us it’s a no-brainer and a no-kidding.

[GodGunsGuts]

Thanks for the ping, Sam. Yep, you nailed it, these are precisely the kind of deceptive tactics I was talking about. This article will definitely go in the save pile.

All the best—GGG

[Arthur McGowan]

...and a growing stigma about H.I.V. among gays that keeps some men from revealing that they are infected.

What a world! What a world! Where people insist on stigmatizing a virus that causes death.

[Arthur McGowan]

Bug chasing is an attempt to give gay sex meaning. Since gay sex is non-procreative, it is, in itself, meaningless. BTW: Since most of the heterosexual population practices contraception, which is a species of sodomy, has anyone ever investigated whether there are "bug chasers" among the heterosexual population? Are there people who feel less-than-au-courant because they are the last on their block without herpes?

[garylmoore]

Ever notice that all homo’s are liberal.

[cherry]

sometimes I think we have to come right out and say that homosexual sex is not normal sex....it “may” be pleasurable for the participants, it may have historical background,it may be none of our business, but it is not normal sexual activity....its a perversion....and within that perversion is the reason WHY it is a dangerous activity....but we all knew that...

[unspun]

Darwin was wrong about the spontaneous formation of life.

But he was right about natural selection.

[Tall_Texan]

a growing stigma about H.I.V. among gays that keeps some men from revealing that they are infected.

So, they're suggesting that gays may be bigoted?

[massgopguy]

What “stigma” would that be? Other than proving the point.