CDC: HIV rates rising among gay men

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on World AIDS Day released new data on domestic HIV infection rates culled from information gathered in 32 states, reporting that while the overall HIV infection rate remained steady from 2000 to 2003, infections did rise in some groups, including gay and bisexual men. New HIV infections among gay men climbed 11% between 2000 and 2003, with the largest increase occurring from 2001 to 2002. Overall, HIV infection rates climbed 5% among all U.S. males, with the increase largely due to the higher infection rate among gay men. Between 2000 and 2003, more than half of all new HIV diagnoses were among African-Americans; 32% were among whites; and 15% were among Latinos. African-American women were infected at a rate 18 times higher than white women. African-American men were infected at a rate seven times higher than white men, and three times higher than Latino men, according to the CDC data.