August 3, 2008 Senator Clinton: New HIV Estimates Underscore Need to Improve Response, Increase Prevention Efforts Estimates from CDC Place New HIV Infections at More Than 56,000 for 2006 "Today's numbers give us a better sense of the scope of the epidemic in the These estimates are the first to reflect a new methodology used by the CDC that allows for more accurate estimates of new infections. Prior to this year, the estimate was that there were 40,000 new infections every year. This new methodology will allow the CDC to better reflect the true scope of the epidemic in the The numbers released today by the CDC reveal that new HIV infections have declined since the 1980s. However, rates among minority populations continue to be unacceptably high. African Americans account for 45 percent of new HIV infections, although they only represent about 13 percent of the population, and African American communities have infection rates that are seven times higher than those of whites. This follows a report released last week by the Black AIDS Institute that found that more black Americans are infected with HIV than the total populations living with HIV in seven of the 15 focus countries served by our country's global AIDS program. In addition, Hispanics are getting infected at rates three times higher than whites. Senator Clinton has been a vocal advocate of the need for prevention, testing and early treatment. She has led the push to increase appropriations for domestic AIDS funding in the Senate, encompassing prevention and treatment efforts at multiple agencies. She introduced the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which will allow low-income individuals with HIV to access Medicaid before they become ill. Earlier this year, she introduced a resolution commemorating June's National HIV Testing Day.
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