National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — September 27, 2015

MMWR Weekly Vol. 64, No. 37 September 25, 2015

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National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — September 27, 2015

Weekly

September 25, 2015 / 64(37);1037

National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed each year on September 27 to direct attention to the ongoing and disproportionate impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. MSM represent approximately 2% of the U.S. population (1). However, in 2013, MSM accounted for 67% of all new HIV diagnoses, including 3% who were also injection drug users (2).

In 2011, among all persons living with HIV infection, an estimated 647,700 (54%) were MSM (3). Of these MSM, an estimated 84% received a diagnosis of HIV, 38% were in HIV medical care, antiretroviral therapy was prescribed for 35%, and 30% achieved viral suppression.

CDC supports efforts to reduce HIV infection among MSM, including HIV prevention services that increase diagnosis of HIV infection, support the linkage and engagement of MSM in care and treatment, and reduce the risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV. Additional information about these efforts is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/gender/msm. Additional information about National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/features/ngmhaad.

References

1. Purcell DW, Johnson CH, Lansky A, et al. Estimating the population size of men who have sex with men in the United States to obtain HIV and syphilis rates. Open AIDS J 2012;6:98–107.
2. CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2013. HIV surveillance report 2015; 25. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2015. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/surveillance/2013/surveillance_report_vol_25.html.
3. Bradley H, Hall HI, Wolitski RJ, et al. Vital Signs: HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment among persons living with HIV—United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014;63:1113–7.