More than 20 years into the AIDS epidemic, HIV continues to exact a tremendous toll in the United States. To date, more than 500,000 people have died of AIDS in the U.S. and the latest estimates indicate that, as of the end of 2003, there are approximately 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 people living with HIV infection. Despite the growing pool of persons capable of transmitting the virus, the number of persons becoming newly infected each year has remained constant over the last 10 years, at approximately 40,000 new infections per year. Of particular concern is that approximately 25 percent of those infected with HIV are unaware of their infection. Infections from this group are believed to account for more than half of new HIV infections each year.

Since its beginning, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed in a number of important ways. Initially, it primarily affected whites, but today the majority of those affected are people of color. Out of the approximate 1 million people currently living with HIV infection, 47 percent are Black, 34 percent are White, 17 percent are Hispanic, 1 percent are Asian/Pacific Islanders and 1 percent are American Indians/Alaska Natives. The epidemic continues to have a great impact on men who have sex with men (MSM). By risk group, MSM represent the largest population living with HIV (45%), followed by those infected through heterosexual contact (27%), individuals infected through injection drug use (IDU) (22%), and finally those who are both MSM and injection drug users (5%).¹

¹ Glynn, M., et al. Estimated HIV prevalence in the United States at the end of 2003. 2005 National HIV Prevention Conference; June 12 – 15, 2005. Atlanta, GA Abstract 595.