U.S. blacks continue to bear the brunt of HIV/AIDS

Reuters ^ | February 6, 2009

[Zakeet]

In the United States, African American men and women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted in a statement issued to coincide with the 9th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7.

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, African Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly half of all new HIV infections and almost half of all Americans living with HIV.

According to federal health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2006, more new HIV infections occurred among young black men who have sex with men than in any other segment of the U.S. population. That same year, black women acquired new HIV infections at 15 times the rate of white women.

In Washington, DC, alone, 1 in 20 residents is living with HIV - roughly the same proportion of people as in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, according to Fauci, and 1 in 50 DC residents has AIDS. "These shocking statistics would be tragic anywhere but are particularly inexcusable in a wealthy country such as the United States," he said.

[Scotswife]

“AIDS is caused by promiscuity and is entirely preventable “

I would disagree with this statement.

AIDS is caused by sleeping with the “wrong” person.

If you sleep with the wrong person, it isn’t going to matter how promiscuous - or non-promiscuous you are.

[kcvl]

In Washington, DC, alone, 1 in 20 residents is living with HIV

It sounds like they need an exterminator not more money poured down the rat hole.

Maybe if some of them kept their pants on that rate would go down.

[Centurion2000]

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, African Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly half of all new HIV infections and almost half of all Americans living with HIV

I have the perfect solution for everyone worried about this AIDS thing :

Be more selective where you stick it ... and what sticks you.
Don't share needles and do intravenous drugs
Try not to get blood transfusions ever.

If you got it from the last problem, my sympathies. The first two? Reap the whirlwind.

[kcvl]

When he became director of the institute in 1984, Fauci added the role of lobbyist and administrator to his duties as a lead researcher. He regularly testifies before Congress to seek funding and to help educate lawmakers on developments in HIV/AIDS. He manages the billion-dollar budget for the institute.

[TheWriterTX]

On the contrary, I agree with what most of the posters were saying, and indicated as such in a response to another poster.

Homosexuality and drug use ARE the major contributing factors in the spread of HIV. HIV is a preventable condition when folks choose not to engage in dangerous and risky behavior. I don't have any sympathy for people who willingly walk into the lion's den and then cry when they are mauled or bit. It's not a surprise, either, that the black population is experiencing a disproportionate share of documented cases; urban inner cities are places were these activities thrive. Personally, I'm not very interested, either, in throwing more money at the problem for people who willingly engage in dangerous behavior.

The point I made, however, is valid. There are young people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves living with this disease. That is why I reminded folks to have "a little heart." Our natural response is to presume that because it's a preventable disease, only the guilty can get it.

That is not true.

Two other folks besides you responded to my post, and I responded to them. Hijack the thread? Hardly.

Look at the thread; there were plenty of people singing in the "let them rot" choir.

[ansel12]

“I didn’t read all of the article, so forgive me if this wasn’t touched on.”

---

You had your own subject to push, choosing to not even read the original posters article.

[GOPJ]

If only there was a way to find out how AIDS was transmitted - might give us a clue as to why this is happening. /sarcasm

[GOPJ]

Really - it's time to vote on this - men who abuse children in this way should be put to death.

[wolf78]

OK, one more time:

1. 99% percent of untreated patients with HIV will get AIDS.

2. Infection with HIV is a disease that can be transmitted sexually or via blood. AIDS is not a disease per se, it's a syndrome.

3. HIV is a pandemic and eastern Africa, because it spreads sustainably among the population. It is not in Montana.

4. With cheaper HIV tests, HIV infection figures for Africa have become much more reliable over the last years. This is not the 80s anymore, where HIV infection was diagnosed by symptoms.

5. Diagnosing HIV is usually done with three successive tests: ELISA antibody test, Western Blot antibody test and PCR, which detects the virus directly.

6. A monogamous couple that hasn't been sexually active before or has been tested for the disease is not at risk for HIV / AIDS. People with poligamous partners or who have alternating sexual partners themselves are at risk, also depending on the social group they choose their partners from (gay more than straight, urban more than rural etc.).

7. AZT (azidothymidine) has a 100- to 300-fold greater affinity for the HIV reverse transcriptase, as compared to the human DNA polymerase, accounting for its selective antiviral activity. AZA (azathioprine) which is given to supress organ transplant rejection or in case of autoimmune diseases, is indeed a DNA synthesis inhibitor on the cellular level (not viral RNA/DNA). And still it doesn't kill people.

Next?