CDC Fact Sheet: New HIV Infections in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (2012)

This fact sheet provides the annual estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on new HIV infections in the United States for the years 2007 – 2010. The report indicates that the overall number of new infections has remained relatively stable since the 90s. Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain disproportionately affected by HIV; although they only account for 4% of the population, they comprise approximately 63% of new HIV infections. Among both homosexual and heterosexual transmissions, blacks are overrepresented, composing 14% of the overall population and 44% of new HIV infections. Hispanics also experience disproportionate rates of new HIV infections, accounting for 16% of the population and 21% of new infections. One promising figure is the number of newly infected black women, which decreased by 21% during the period from 2008 to 2010. However, additional research is needed before a definitive trend can be established.

The current data provide insight on prevention efforts. The CDC states that these statistics will help inform High-Impact Prevention, "a new approach that focuses on implementing the most cost-effective and scalable interventions in the geographic areas and populations most heavily affected by HIV." Hopefully, this new process will effectively address the disturbing rates of new infections among MSM, blacks, and Latinos.