Estimate of Annual HIV Incidence Increases Significantly; New Estimate Will Show Need For a National AID...( WASHINGTON Aug. 1 -- The federal...),Health

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) long anticipated revised estimate of annual new cases of HIV infections will be revealed on Aug. 3 in a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The revised estimated number of new infections suggests that the HIV epidemic here in the United States is more severe than current statistics portray. The revised estimate for 2006 will replace the current, widely reported estimate of 40,000 annual new infections, which has been used for a number of years. The anticipated estimated number of new HIV infections will remain high, and is higher than what America has been led to believe. After 27 years, the United States lacks a coherent strategy for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, reflected in this disturbing increase in the estimate of HIV incidence.

"The revised CDC figure represents an unacceptable level of new HIV infections for a preventable disease. The revised estimate underlines the need for a National AIDS Strategy with measurable outcomes, reliance on evidence-based programs, and sufficient funding," said Joseph Interrante, CEO, Nashville CARES in Nashville, TN and Chair of AIDS Action Council's Board of Directors. "Stopping the spread of HIV and treating all people living with HIV must be a high priority for our leaders and the American public," Interrante added.

"The higher estimate of annual new HIV infections does not mean that HIV prevention does not work. What is failing is national leadership to fund and support sound, scientifically effective HIV prevention programs," said AIDS Action Deputy Executive Director Ronald Johnson.

Federal funding for domestic HIV prevention has not kept pace with the epidemic, especially given the crisis of HIV/AIDS in communities of color, particularly in African American and Hispanic communities and the high impact of HIV on gay men and men who have sex with
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