This report complements the information in the 2006 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report and updates the information in the supplementary report on race/ethnicity data from 2000 through 2004 (HIV/AIDS Surveillance Supplemental Report 2006;12[No. 1]). In this report, we present estimated numbers of cases of HIV infection, including cases of HIV infection that progressed to AIDS. These data are stratified by the following races and ethnic groups: white, black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native (these classifications have not changed). However, the Asian or Pacific Islander category displayed in previous HIV/AIDS surveillance reports (annual and supplemental) has been split into 2 categories: (1) Asian and (2) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Puerto Rico implemented confidential name-based HIV infection case surveillance in January 2003, and this report marks the first time that HIV case reports from Puerto Rico have been included in the tabulation and presentation of HIV/AIDS and AIDS data in a supplemental report.

Surveillance data on HIV infections, compared with data on AIDS, provide a more complete picture of the epidemic and the need for prevention and care services. However, the number of new HIV diagnoses during a given year does not necessarily reflect HIV incidence (i.e., new infections) because some persons were infected recently and others were infected at some time in the past. CDC has developed the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS), which can distinguish recent from longstanding HIV infections at a population level. This algorithm has made it possible to develop a surveillance system that provides more accurate and timely estimates of HIV incidence. The monitoring of HIV incidence is critical in evaluating progress toward CDC's goal of reducing the number of new HIV infections in the United States and in allocating resources and evaluating prevention program effectiveness.

In this report, HIV/AIDS is used to refer to 3 categories of diagnoses collectively: (1) a diagnosis of HIV infection (not AIDS), (2) a diagnosis of HIV infection with a later diagnosis of AIDS, and (3) concurrent diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS. For analyses of HIV/AIDS data, we used data from the 38 areas (33 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas) that have had confidential name-based HIV infection reporting long enough (i.e., since at least 2003) for data collection to stabilize and for adjustment of the data in order to monitor trends. This report summarizes the diagnoses and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS by race/ethnicity. For analysis of diagnoses of AIDS, we used data from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 5 U.S. dependent areas.

Report Highlights

• From 2003 through 2006, the numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in the 38 areas with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting increased among whites and Asians and fluctuated among American Indians/Alaska Natives. The number of cases among Hispanics/Latinos and blacks/African Americans remained stable; however, blacks/African Americans accounted for 47% of all new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in 2006 (Table 1).
• From 2003 through 2006, the numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in males increased among whites, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians and remained stable among blacks/African Americans. The numbers of cases in females decreased among blacks/African Americans; remained stable among whites, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians; and fluctuated among American Indians/Alaska Natives (Table 2).
• In 2005, the proportions of HIV infections in adults and adolescents (>13 years of age) that progressed to AIDS within 12 months after HIV infection were 42% among Hispanics/Latinos, 38% among blacks/African Americans, and 35% among whites. The proportions among other races were 49% among Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders, 39% among American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 36% among Asians (Table 3).
• From 2002 through 2006, the numbers of AIDS cases in adults and adolescents (>13 years of age) decreased among blacks/African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives, remained stable among whites and Hispanics/Latinos, and increased among Asians and Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders. The numbers of AIDS cases in children (<13 years of age) decreased among whites, blacks/African Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos (Table 4).
• In 2006, the rates of AIDS cases in the 50 states and the District of Columbia ranged from a high of 61.5 per 100,000 among black/African American adults and adolescents to a low of 4.1 per 100,000 among Asian adults and adolescents (Table 7).
• In 2006, the rates of HIV/AIDS cases in the 33 states with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting ranged from a high of 87.0 per 100,000 among black/African American adults and adolescents to a low of 7.6 per 100,000 among Asian adults and adolescents (Table 8).
• At the end of 2006, an estimated 509,681 persons were living with HIV/AIDS in the 38 areas with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting since 2003: 46% were black/African American, 32% white, 20% Hispanic/Latino, 1% Asian, and <1% each were American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (Table 9).
• At the end of 2006, an estimated 448,871 persons in the United States and dependent areas were living with AIDS: 43% were black/African American, 34% white, 20% Hispanic/Latino, 1% Asian, and <1% each were American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (Table 10).

Note. Data for Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders must be interpreted with caution because of the small numbers of cases.