AIDS rate rises in New York City

The biannual New York City Mayor's Management Report, released Wednesday, found that AIDS, tuberculosis, syphilis, homelessness, welfare rolls, and infant mortality all increased during fiscal year 2004, which ran from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. While the city has been successful in some efforts--such as crime reduction, sanitation, and reducing the number of smokers from 21.5% to 19.2% of the population--several areas that fall under the auspices of the health department recorded increases where there had previously been yearly declines, according to the 262-page report. The city's recorded 5,124 new AIDS cases in fiscal 2004, up 960 cases from 2003 levels. And for the fourth consecutive year, syphilis cases rose. In fiscal 2000 the city recorded just 131 new syphilis cases; in fiscal 2004 the number was 599. Most of the increase occurred among gay and bisexual men practicing unsafe sex, says the health department. In response, the department has launched educational campaigns and free sexually transmitted disease screenings.