No, it is because the CDC is gearing up for the next big AIDS extravaganza and needs some alarmist news to make a headline and remind congressmen to vote them more funds. The tipoff is the false attribution of 16% to heterosexual activity. What they mean is 16% among heterosexual IV drug abusers.
I would have better made my point with a question mark, instead of a period, or used a /sarcasm tag.