US+Population

====HIV/AIDS is a relatively recent phenomenon in the world health tableau, and has been a deadly one. Despite years of research since it's emergence in the early 1980s, there remains no cure or vaccine, and current treatment merely results in the prolonging of life. Since the explosion of cases in the US in the mid-1980s, popular awareness of HIV/AIDS has increased and we have implemented many public information campaigns about the disease, its effects, and how to prevent it.====

====Despite these efforts, the cases of people diagnosed with HIV are on the rise. Current data from the CDC showed an incidence rate of 1.2 million cases in the United States, with 1 in 5 people unaware they have the disease. Although diagnosis of AIDS cases and deaths has decreased from it's peak incidence rate in 1993 since the introduction of antiviral medication, the number of people of cases of people living with HIV has steadily increased.====

====Current trending analysis shows that despite increases in our ability to treat the symptoms of HIV/AIDS through new drug treatments, the incidence rate of people with the disease continues to increase. According to the NIH, the country has experienced 617,025 deaths since the beginning of the US epidemic in 1981.====

====Examination of our incidence rates here show that although HIV/AIDS is a problem that crosses many cultural divides, it has a much greater impact on minority communities and populations of risk. In many of these cases, access to education and health care for the prevention and early identification of the disease is likely a factor in the perpetuation of the high transmission rates.====

====Let's examine some of the attributes and current concerns for these populations, as identified by the CDC ([|http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/us.htm#1]):====

**Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)** of all races and ethnicities remain the population most severely affected by HIV.

 * ====CDC estimates that MSM account for just 2% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 61% of all new HIV infections in 2009. MSM accounted for 49% of people living with HIV infection in 2008 (the most recent year national prevalence data are available).====
 * ====In 2009, white MSM continued to account for the largest number of new HIV infections of any group in the U.S. (11,400), followed closely by black MSM (10,800).====
 * ====Young, black MSM were the only risk group in the U.S. to experience statistically significant increases in new HIV infections from 2006–2009—from 4,400 new HIV infections in 2006 to 6,500 infections in 2009.====
 * ====Since the epidemic began, almost 300,000 MSM with AIDS have died, including an estimated 6,863 in 2009.====

**Heterosexuals and Injection Drug Users** also continue to be affected by HIV.

 * ====Heterosexuals accounted for 27% of estimated new HIV infections in 2009 and 28% of people living with HIV infection in 2008.====
 * ====Since the epidemic began, more than 80,000 persons with AIDS, infected through heterosexual sex, have died, including an estimated 4,434 in 2009.====
 * ====HIV infections among women are primarily attributed to heterosexual contact or injection drug use. Women accounted for 23% of estimated new HIV infections in 2009 and 25% of those living with HIV infection in 2008.====
 * ====Injection drug users represented 9% of new HIV infections in 2009 and 17% of those living with HIV in 2008.====
 * ====Since the epidemic began, more than 175,000 injection drug users with AIDS have died including an estimated 4,759 in 2009.====

**By Race/Ethnicity**

 * ====Blacks continue to experience the most severe burden of HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities. Blacks represent approximately 14% of the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2009. Blacks accounted for 46% of people living with HIV infection in 2008.====
 * ====Since the epidemic began, more than 250,000 blacks with AIDS have died, including 8,782 in 2009.====
 * ====At some point in their life, approximately 1 in 16 black men will be diagnosed with HIV infection, as will 1 in 32 black women.====
 * ====In 2009, the estimated rate of new HIV infections among black men was six and a half times as high as that of white men, and more than two and a half times as high as that of Hispanic/Latino men and of black women. In the same year, the estimated rate of new HIV infections among black women was 15 times that of white women and over three times that of Hispanic/ Latina women.====

**Hispanics/Latinos** are also disproportionately affected by HIV.

 * ====Hispanics/Latinos represented 16% of the population but accounted for 20% of new HIV infections in 2009. Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 17% of people living with HIV infection in 2008.====
 * ====Since the epidemic began, an estimated more than 95,000 Hispanics/Latinos with AIDS have died, including 2,853 in 2009.====

====Geographical data related to incidence rate likewise shows a picture of demographics that are not equally distributed. Incidence rates and infection cases remain much higher among the urban populations of the US and in the south. An interactive map of state and county incidence rates is available online through Emery University: []====