As of December 2001, more than 360,000 people are reported to be living with AIDS. In all, since the disease was first reported 20 years ago, over 800,000 people have developed AIDS in the U.S. 1 Many of those who are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are unaware of their HIV status and may unknowingly be transmitting the virus to others. An estimated 40,000 new HIV infections occur in the U.S. each year. 2 Who is infected? The changing face of HIV-AIDS In general, the number of new infections each year is stable. But the face of infections is not -- some populations have always been at risk; in others, the risk is increasing. Although men who have love with men (MSM) and injection drug users (IDUs) are still the largest proportion of new HIV infections and AIDS cases each year, the face of the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the U.S. is changing. Approximately 5 million Americans are considered to be at high risk for HIV infection 3. At increasing risk are women, young people, and people of color. Women Women make up nearly one-third of new HIV infections. 4 In 1992, women accounted for 13.8% of people living with AIDS 5; by the end of 2001 that percentage had increased to 21%. 6 Among women, loveual contact accounts for 75% of infections. 7 Learn more about women and HIV-AIDS Young People Half of all new HIV infections are believed to occur in people under the age of 25. 8 Over 50% of new HIV infections among young people under the age of 25 are the result of heteroloveual contact. Heteroloveual contact accounts for at least 45% of new HIV infections among women under the age of 25. Among men under the age of 25, 49% of all AIDS cases reported in 2000 were among men who have love with men. Learn more about young people and HIV-AIDS People of Color In 2000, the rate of reported AIDS cases among African Americans was 8 times the rate for whites. African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population 9, yet make up over half of new HIV infections 10. In 2000, almost two-thirds of all women reported with AIDS were African American. 11 African American children make up two-thirds of new pediatric AIDS cases. 12 African American and Hispanic women together represent less than one-quarter of all U.S. women, yet they account for more than three-quarters of AIDS cases among women. 13 Hispanics, who represent 13% of the population, account for about 19% of new AIDS cases. 14 Although African Americans and Hispanics combined represent about one-quarter of the U.S. population, they account for over two-thirds of both new HIV infections and new AIDS cases. Despite the increased risk in these populations, men who have love with men (MSM) and injection drug users (IDUs) still represent the largest proportion of new HIV infections and AIDS cases each year. In addition, people already living with TB, an STD, or HIV-AIDS are at high risk of becoming infected themselves or of infecting others. For more information on at-risk populations, visit the Communities at Risk section of this web site.
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