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Fast Facts
- 1.2 million people in the United States are
living with HIV infection and 1 in 5 are unaware
of their infection.
- MSM, particularly young, black MSM, are most
severely affected by HIV.
- By race, blacks/African Americans face the
most severe burden of HIV.
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CDC estimates 1.2 million people in the United
States (U.S.) are living with HIV infection. One in
five (20%) of those people are unaware of their
infection. Despite increases in the total number of
people in the U.S. living with HIV infection in
recent years (due to better testing and treatment
options), the annual number of new HIV infections
has remained relatively stable. However, new
infections continue at far too high of a level, with
approximately 50,000 Americans becoming infected
with HIV each year.
In 2010, an estimated 47,129 people were
diagnosed with HIV infection in the 46 states with
confidential name-based HIV infection reporting
since at least January 2007. In that same year, an
estimated 33,015 people throughout the U.S. were
diagnosed with AIDS. Since the epidemic began, an
estimated 1,129,127 people in the U.S. have been
diagnosed with AIDS.
An estimated 17,774 people with AIDS died in
2009, and nearly 619,400 people with AIDS in the
U.S. have died since the epidemic began.
Estimates of New HIV Infections in the United States, 2009,
for the Most-Affected Subpopulations[2]
Subpopulations representing 2% or less of the overall US epidemic
are not reflected in this chart.
By Risk Group
Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with
Men (MSM)[1] of all races and ethnicities remain the
population most severely affected by HIV.
- CDC estimates that MSM account for just 2%
of the U.S. population, but accounted for 61% of
all new HIV infections in 2009. MSM accounted
for 49% of people living with HIV infection in
2008 (the most recent year national prevalence
data are available).
- In 2009, white MSM continued to account for
the largest number of new HIV infections of any
group in the U.S. (11,400), followed closely by
black MSM (10,800).
- Young, black MSM were the only risk group in
the U.S. to experience statistically significant
increases in new HIV infections from
2006–2009—from 4,400 new HIV infections in 2006
to 6,500 infections in 2009.
- Since the epidemic began, almost 300,000 MSM
with AIDS have died, including an estimated
6,863 in 2009.
Heterosexuals and Injection Drug Users also
continue to be affected by HIV.
- Heterosexuals accounted for 27% of estimated new
HIV infections in 2009 and 28% of people living with
HIV infection in 2008.
- Since the epidemic began, more than 80,000 persons
with AIDS, infected through heterosexual sex, have
died, including an estimated 4,434 in 2009.
- HIV infections among women are primarily
attributed to heterosexual contact or injection drug
use. Women accounted for 23% of estimated new HIV
infections in 2009 and 25% of those living with HIV
infection in 2008.
- Injection drug users represented 9% of new HIV
infections in 2009 and 17% of those living with HIV
in 2008.
- Since the epidemic began, more than 175,000
injection drug users with AIDS have died including
an estimated 4,759 in 2009.
By Race/Ethnicity
- Blacks continue to experience the most severe
burden of HIV, compared to other races and
ethnicities. Blacks represent approximately 14% of
the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated
44% of new HIV infections in 2009. Blacks accounted
for 46% of people living with HIV infection in 2008.
- Since the epidemic began, more than 250,000 blacks
with AIDS have died , including 8,782 in 2009.
- At some point in their life, approximately 1 in 16
black men will be diagnosed with HIV infection, as
will 1 in 32 black women.
- In 2009, the estimated rate of new HIV infections
among black men was six and a half times as high as
that of white men, and more than two and a half
times as high as that of Hispanic/Latino men and of
black women. In the same year, the estimated rate of
new HIV infections among black women was 15 times
that of white women and over three times that of
Hispanic/ Latina women.
Hispanics/Latinos are also disproportionately
affected by HIV.
- Hispanics/Latinos represented 16% of the
population but accounted for 20% of new HIV
infections in 2009. Hispanics/Latinos accounted for
17% of people living with HIV infection in 2008.
- Since the epidemic began, an estimated more than
95,000 Hispanics/Latinos with AIDS have died,
including 2,853 in 2009.
Estimated Rate of New HIV Infections, 2009,
by Gender and Race/Ethnicity [2]
References
- The term men who who
have sex with men (MSM) is used in CDC
surveillance systems. It indicates the behaviors
that transmit HIV infection, not how individuals
self-identify in terms of their sexuality.
- Prejean J, Song R, Hernandez A, Ziebell R, Green T,
et al. (2011) Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States, 2006-2009.
PLoS ONE 6(8): e17502. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017502.
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