CDC: More than a million in U.S. live with HIV

[Algorem]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-hiv0613,1,2390178.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

Latest figures reflect drugs' success, but offer grim view of persistent epidemic

Originally published June 13, 2005, 1:21 PM EDT

ATLANTA -- For the first time since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, more than a million Americans are believed to be living with the virus that causes AIDS, the government said today.

The latest estimate is both good and bad news -- reflecting the success of drugs that keep more people alive and the failure of the government to "break the back" of the AIDS epidemic by its stated goal of 2005.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 people in the United States were living with HIV in December 2003. The previous estimate -- released in 2002 -- showed that between 850,000 and 950,000 people had the AIDS virus.

The jump reflects the role of medicines that have allowed people infected with the virus to live longer, said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention...

[benburch]

1. And at about $250 per day per patient for drug cocktail therapy...

That is $250,000,000 a DAY into the coffers of the pharmaceutical industry.

Now, tell me again why they have a motivation to ever find a vaccine or cure???

[sweetheart]

2. Number of Americans with HIV soars past 1m

By Christopher Swann in Washington
Published: June 13 2005 19:17 | Last updated: June 13 2005 19:17

imageThe number of Americans living with HIV, the virus that causes Aids, has shot past 1m for the first time, according to a US government estimate on Monday.
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The rise reflects the failure of government initiatives to control the spread of the disease but also the success of new drugs in keeping infected individuals alive.

The Centers for Disease Control said that between 1.039m and 1.185m Americans carried the virus in December 2003. This was up from between 850,000 and 950,000 at the end of 2000.

Dr Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB prevention, acknowledged that the figures were both good and bad news.
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http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9b7d3212-dc36-11d9-819f-00000e2511c8.html

[Placebo]

3. More Than a Million in U.S. Live With HIV

More than a million Americans are believed to be living with the virus that causes AIDS, the government said Monday in a report that reflects both a victory and a failure at combatting the disease.

While better medicines are keeping more people with HIV alive, government health officials have failed to "break the back" of the AIDS epidemic by their stated goal of 2005. This is believed to be the first time the 1 million mark has been passed since the height of the epidemic in the 1980s.

New medicines that weren't around in 1981 have allowed people infected with the virus to live longer, said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention.

"While treatment advances have been an obvious godsend to those living with the disease, it presents new challenges for prevention," he said as the National HIV Prevention Conference got under way. Among the challenges is reaching an estimated 25 percent of those with HIV who don't even know they have it.

More...

[sweetheart]

4. why is this infection increasing?

Is this at all due to the condom's vs abstinance views of the BFEE?

[Moderator]

5. kick to combine

[Chauga]

6. Troubling rise seen in HIV infections

More Americans than ever before are living with HIV, according to the latest government estimates, reflecting both the efficacy of drug therapy and a failure to make a dent in the rate of new infections.

Though the rate of infection appears to be relatively stable and may actually be decreasing among African-American women, researchers say they see some troubling evidence that rates are actually rising among young gay men and, in particular, young gay black men.

"We are encouraged by our collective successes and challenged by the continuing severity of this epidemic," said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention.

Between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 Americans with HIV were living as of December 2003, the CDC's Dr. Kate Glynn reported yesterday at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta. That's up from an estimated 850,000 to 950,000 at the end of 2000.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05165/521215.stm