African-American Gay Men Top New HIV Stats

Health professionals and community members continue to work avidly toward developing a vaccine for the AIDS virus

Gay and bisexual men account for more new HIV infections in the U.S. – 53 percent – than any other population group. Moreover, this is the only risk group in the nation in which the annual number of new HIV infections is increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“While new infections have declined among both heterosexuals and injection drug users, the annual number of new HIV infections among MSM has been steadily increasing since the early 1990s,” the CDC reports.

There are racial differences among MSM. Most new HIV infections among African-American MSM occur in the 13-29 age group. In fact, their infection rate is approximately twice that of Whites and Hispanics in the same age bracket. By contrast, most of the newly-infected White MSM are aged 30-39, followed by those 40-49, according to the CDC.

”The HIV data tell us two things,” said Phill Wilson, president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles. ”Our recent prevention efforts have totally failed Black gay men. Even today, we are investing less to prevent HIV among Black gay men than any other at risk group.” [READ MORE]