SoCal AIDS awareness campaign calls HIV a “gay disease”

September 30, 2006 by Walter Schneider.

“In Los Angeles County, about 75 percent of HIV cases are among men who have had sex with other men. But nationwide, gay and bisexual men account for about half of recent HIV transmission, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.” (Associated Press)

That is amazing. Gay and bisexual men comprise about 2 percent of the population and account for half of all HIV cases!

Related to the article identified in the preceding link:

CDC HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet:

In the United States, HIV infection and AIDS have had a tremendous effect on men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM accounted for 70% of all estimated HIV infections among male adults and adolescents in 2004 (based on data from 35 areas with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting*), even though only about 5% to 7% of male adults and adolescents in the United States identify themselves as MSM [1,2]…..

STATISTICS
HIV/AIDS in 2004

In the 35 areas with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting, an estimated 19,575 MSM (18,203 MSM and 1,372 MSM who inject drugs) received a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, accounting for 70% of all male adults and adolescents and 51% of all people receiving an HIV/AIDS diagnosis that year [1].

The number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses among MSM increased 8% from 2003 through 2004. It is not known whether this increase is due to an increase in the testing of persons with risk factors or due to an increase in cases of HIV infection….

RISK Factors AND BARRIERS TO PREVENTION
Sexual Risk Factors

Sexual risk factors account for most HIV infections in MSM. These factors include unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)….

Since the beginning of the epidemic, an estimated 295,520 MSM (256,053 MSM and 39,467 MSM who inject drugs) with AIDS had died, accounting for 67% of all male adults and adolescents and 56% of all people with AIDS who died [1]….

(Full Story)

Sexually transmitted diseases are a risk factor in contracting an HIV infection? At first glance that seems to be an oxymoron, but it is logical. Lesions caused by any STD make it that much more likely for men who have them and have sex with other men to contract an HIV infection.

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