Through December 1995, 513,486 people in the United States had been reported with AIDS to the Centers fro Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). Of these, over 318,361, (62%) had died. The annual estimated number of new HIV infections in the United Stats has decreased from approximately 100,000 severl years ago to 40,000. Regardless of this decrease, CDC currently estimates that approximately 600,000 to 900,000 Americans are infected with HIV. The number of peple infected represents only a small fraction of the number of people who are affected by the epidemic, including family members, friends, and loved ones of infected individuals. Large metropolitan areas continue to bear a large portion of AIDS cases. Regardless of this trend, smaller communities are not free from this disease, and must confront HIV / AIDS as a pressing public health challenge.

Highest Annual AIDS Rates (number of new reported cases per 100,000 population) in metropolitan areas of 500,000 or more.

Who is at risk?

The population most affected by AIDS in the United States, continues to be men who have sex with men, (42% of all new AIDS cases in 1995). Recognizing this epidemic, the gay community has taken action to curb the further spread of HIV / AIDS between men who have sex with men, by promoting the practice of safer sex, and putting a stong emphasis on communicating openly about sex issues. The result has been a decrease in the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men. Injecting drug users, also a high-risk group, accounted for 26% of all new AIDS cases reported in 1995. Most Americans have regarded these as the major populations at risk. The belief that men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users are the only ones infected with HIV / AIDS, however is a false on. Demographics continue to change, with the number of HIV / AIDS cases in the United States caused by heterosexual transmission increasing, paralleling the major trend of heterosexual transmission in the rest of the world. The proportion of AIDS cases among women, racial/ethnic minorites, and children has increased while the rate of AIDS among men who have sex with men has remained relatively level - perhaps reflecting the impact of sustained targeted prevention programs.

HIV / AIDS continues to raise sensitive social, and political issues, challenge our health care system, and threaten families and communites. Everyone must understand that AIDS knows no boundaries, and can be prevented only by eliminating risky behavior.

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