New HIV Infection Figures from CDC Underscore Need for National AIDS Strategy
for the U.S.
Announcement of increased new infections in 2006 follows nearly two-year delay
in releasing data
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new HIV infection
figures by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) increase the
estimate of new HIV infections in 2006 from 40,000 to 56,300. Though the
agency says the one-year revision does not necessarily indicate an ongoing
increase in the annual estimated infection rate, the new estimate demonstrates
that HIV infection rate is not falling and may very possibly be increasing
significantly.
"While the CDC's new report may demonstrate improved national HIV
surveillance, we have plenty of work ahead turning this data into something we
can use to reduce new infections across the U.S.," said Mark Cloutier, Chief
Executive Officer of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "To make measurable
progress against HIV, we need to know whether infection rates are going up,
which groups are becoming infected, and which prevention activities reduce new
infections. We need a comprehensive National AIDS Strategy with measurable
outcome targets, a timeline for action, increased funding and a particular
focus on those most at risk, including racial and ethnic minorities."
"HIV/AIDS continues to be a public health emergency that has not received
adequate nor appropriate attention as a nationwide priority," said Julie
Davids, Executive Director of the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project
(CHAMP). "It is ironic that the CDC is announcing these long-awaited figures
at the International AIDS Conference, where we are hearing success stories
from countries implementing vibrant National AIDS Strategies as a major
requirement for receiving U.S. funds via PEPFAR."
"The CDC's nearly two-year delay in disclosing these figures from 2006
exacerbates continued peril to the country's most-at-risk communities,
including African-Americans and Latinos who bear the brunt of the epidemic,"
said David Ernesto Munar, Vice President of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and
Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association of People with
AIDS. "Also, recent evidence of rising HIV diagnoses among gay men and other
men who have sex with men, especially among young gay men of color, is a clear
example of why a new approach is desperately needed to obtain progress against
HIV/AIDS in the U.S."
"Only with increased resources and a cogent and well implemented National
AIDS Strategy can we bring down HIV incidence, increase access to care, and
reduce persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the HIV/AIDS epidemic,"
said Dr. Marjorie Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Gay Men's Health Crisis
(GMHC). "A comprehensive, outcomes-oriented Strategy is the best way to
ensure provision of evidence-based programming, including needle-exchange
programs and comprehensive sex education for youth."
More than 250 organizations and hundreds of individuals have endorsed the
National AIDS Strategy effort at www.nationalaidsstrategy.org
http://www.aidsaction.org
Editor's note 1: Nationally recognized HIV/AIDS experts who support a
National AIDS Strategy will be available for interviews in Mexico City (at the
International AIDS Conference), and stateside through the contacts listed.
Contacts: Diego Sanchez, AIDS Action, 617-835-1455
Krishna Stone, Gay Men's Health Crisis, 347-668-6161
Peter Taback, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 646-379-1445
Johnathon Briggs, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, 312-927-9539
Chris Collins, National AIDS Strategy, 845-701-0158
Julie Davids, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP),
646-431-7525
SOURCE AIDS Action
Diego Sanchez, AIDS Action, +1-617-835-1455, or Krishna Stone, Gay Men's
Health Crisis, +1-347-668-6161, or Peter Taback, San Francisco AIDS
Foundation, +1-646-379-1445, or Johnathon Briggs, AIDS Foundation of Chicago,
+1-312-927-9539, or Chris Collins, National AIDS Strategy, +1-845-701-0158, or
Julie Davids, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP),
+1-646-431-7525
