Press Release

For immediate release: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Contact: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
(404) 639-8895
NCHHSTPMediaTeam@cdc.gov

More Than Half of Young HIV-Infected Americans Are Not Aware of Their Status

Too many young people continue to become infected and few are tested for HIV

Young people between the ages of 13 and 24 represent more than a quarter of new HIV infections each year (26 percent) and most of these youth living with HIV (60 percent) are unaware they are infected, according to a Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most-affected young people are young gay and bisexual men and African-Americans, the report says.
The analysis looks at the latest data on HIV infections, testing, and risk behaviors among young people and was published in advance of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.
Overall, an estimated 12,200 new HIV infections occurred in 2010 among young people aged 13-24, with young gay and bisexual men and African-Americans hit harder by HIV than their peers. In 2010, 72 percent of estimated new HIV infections in young people occurred in young men who have sex with men (MSM). By race/ethnicity, 57 percent of estimated new infections in this age group were in African-Americans.
“That so many young people become infected with HIV each year is a preventable tragedy,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “All young people can protect their health, avoid contracting and transmitting the virus, and learn their HIV status.”
According to CDC experts, a number of factors contribute to the high levels of HIV in young people and vary by population. HIV prevalence is higher in some communities than in others, which can increase the likelihood that a person will be exposed to infection with each sexual encounter. Previous research has also found that other factors can increase risk of infection, such as higher levels of unrecognized and untreated infection, as well as social and economic factors, such as poverty, lack of access to health care, stigma, and discrimination.
Despite recommendations from CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics that call for routine HIV testing of youth in medical settings, the analysis shows that 35 percent of 18-24 year olds have been tested for HIV, while only 13 percent of high school students (and 22 percent of sexually experienced students) have ever been tested.
Partially as a result of lower testing levels, HIV-infected people under the age of 25 are significantly less likely than those who are older to get and stay in HIV care, and to have their virus controlled at a level that helps them stay healthy and reduce their risk of transmitting HIV to partners.
CDC also examined risk behaviors among high school students in 12 states and nine large urban school districts, and found that young MSM reported engaging in substantially higher levels of risk behavior than their heterosexual male peers:

Young MSM were more likely to report having had sex with four or more partners or ever injecting illegal drugs.
Among students who were currently sexually active, young MSM were more likely to have used alcohol or drugs before their last sexual experience, and were less likely to have used a condom.
Young MSM were also less likely to report having been taught about HIV or AIDS in school.

“We can and must achieve a generation that is free from HIV and AIDS,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC. “It will take a concerted effort at all levels across our nation to empower all young people, especially young gay and bisexual youth, with the tools and resources they need to protect themselves from HIV infection.” These efforts are underway as part of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
CDC works with partners across the country to help prevent HIV and other STDs among young people. These efforts include encouraging HIV education and testing, funding the delivery of targeted testing and prevention services for youth at greatest risk, and working to address the social and environmental factors that can place some youth at increased risk. CDC also provides data and support to help communities develop effective school- and community-based HIV and STD prevention efforts.
More information about the Vital Signs release is available at www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Primary Materials

Statement: NBHAAD – A Day to Remember and to Act, by Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director, Division of HIV/AIDS

Related Materials

Video Statement
Dr. Donna McCree, Associate Director for Health Equity, on Tackling the Social and Environmental Factors Placing African Americans at Higher Risk for HIV
Downloadable Videos and Graphics
Individual Stories: Voices of African Americans Living with HIV
- Backgrounder: Let’s Stop HIV Together Campaign
Fact Sheet: HIV among African Americans

News Releases and Announcements

New HIV Infections, 2007-2010

Primary Materials
- Fact Sheet: New HIV Infections in the United States
Related Materials
- Full Report: Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States, 2007-2010
- Downloadable graphics for media use/reprint
Archive Previous Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Statements

Disease Information

HIV/AIDS CDC's comprehensive Web site on HIV/AIDS
STDs CDC’s site covering BV, Chlamydia, Herpes, HPV, Gonorrhea, PID, Syphilis and Trichomoniasis
Tuberculosis CDC’s site offering a wide-range of information on TB
Viral Hepatitis CDC’s site providing information on Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E

NCHHSTP Experts

NCHHSTP

CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) is responsible for public health surveillance, prevention research, and programs to prevent and control HIV and AIDS, other STDs, viral hepatitis, and TB. NCHHSTP staff work in collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental partners at the community, state, national, and international levels.

CDC – NCHHSTP Newsroom - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2013 - Statement by Dr. Jonathan Mermin

Statement

For Immediate Release: February 5, 2013
Contact: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
(404) 639-8895
NCHHSTPMediaTeam@cdc.gov

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY (Feb. 7)
"A Day to Remember and to Act"

Statement from Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The 13th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will be observed on February 7th. This is a day to remember and increase awareness of the devastating impact of HIV in African American communities. It is also a day to act.
More than 30 years into the epidemic, African Americans continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV in the United States. Although comprising just 14 percent of the U.S. population, blacks account for half of the more than 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, nearly half of all new HIV infections in the United States and half of all those who have died with AIDS in this country.
Within African American communities, HIV is far-reaching – affecting men and women, gay and straight, young and older alike. Young African American men – particularly gay and bisexual youth – are, by far, the most severely affected population and account for more new infections than any other group in the nation. And while recent data indicate that new HIV infections among African American women are declining for the first time in over a decade, this hard-hit group accounts for 13 percent of all new infections and are far more affected by the disease than women of any other race or ethnicity.
Despite these statistics, there is hope. Today, we have more powerful tools than ever to aid us in the fight against HIV. Our first commitment must be to use them.
For example, we know that newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals who start medical treatment can live long and healthy lives. Early treatment also dramatically reduces a person’s risk of passing the virus to another person. Yet, sadly, CDC’s research shows that HIV-positive African Americans are least likely to be in ongoing care and have their virus under control when compared to other racial groups. We must work to ensure that HIV-positive African Americans are connected to – and stay in – effective care and treatment to protect their health and their partners.
In addition, the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of a once-daily pill to reduce the risk of HIV transmission has the potential to make a significant impact in reducing HIV among those at highest risk, including women and gay and bisexual men. But, for this new biomedical breakthrough to dramatically reduce new HIV infections, those at risk must be aware of the prevention strategy, be able to access it, and use it consistently.
Second, we must make a commitment to confront the underlying factors driving the disproportionate burden of HIV in African American communities, such as addressing the high proportion of African Americans living with HIV.
One key contributing factor is the high proportion of people living with HIV in many African American communities. As a result, African Americans face a greater risk of infection with every sexual encounter. Other factors include: stigma and homophobia, which may prevent many from seeking HIV prevention; economic barriers and lack of insurance, which can limit access to HIV testing, treatment, and care; higher rates of incarceration among African American men, which can disrupt the stability of social and sexual networks in the broader community and decrease the number of available partners for women, helping to fuel the spread of HIV; and higher rates of other sexually transmitted infections, which can facilitate HIV acquisition and transmission.
At CDC, reducing HIV infections among African Americans is an important priority. By pursuing a High-Impact Prevention approach, we are delivering the best prevention tools in ways that will have the greatest impact among African Americans and other populations at risk.
Last year, CDC launched an innovative $43 million, 3-year initiative aimed at reducing health disparities in communities of color by addressing the social, economic, clinical and structural barriers to prevention and care. We recently expanded a multi-million dollar testing initiative to reach more African Americans to offer HIV testing. And through CDC’s national communications campaign, Act Against AIDS, we are raising awareness and increasing HIV testing among African Americans, including those communities hardest hit by the disease.
This is encouraging progress, but we can and must do even more.
Within our communities, we must create safe spaces in our homes, schools and places of worship to talk openly and honestly about HIV. Leaders – both within and outside African American communities – must continue to shine a light on the U.S. HIV epidemic. Individuals can also do their part by getting tested for HIV. If you are sexually active, use condoms consistently and correctly to protect yourself and your partners. If you inject drugs, use clean needles and never share them. If you are a person living with HIV, get and stay in treatment and take the necessary steps to prevent HIV transmission to your partners.
To get to the finish line, we need bold, unified action and leadership at all levels. We each have a role to play. We must all ask ourselves: What action are we willing to take today?

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES