|
CDC Labels AIDS Epidemic for U.S. Blacks a 'Crisis'
By the DiversityInc staff
July 31, 2008
Keywords: AIDS, HIV, CDC, Blacks, Black AIDS Institute, Africa, epidemic, prevention, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast
The AIDS epidemic for Blacks in America is as severe as in some parts of Africa, according to a new report by the Black AIDS Institute. "AIDS in America today is a Black disease," Phil Wilson, founder and CEO of the institute, told CNN. "2006 CDC data tell us that about half of the just over 1 million Americans living with HIV or AIDS are Black," Wilson said. Nearly 600,000 Blacks are living with HIV, and up to 30,000 are contracting it each year, according to the report. This means that if Blacks in America had their own country, that country would rank 16th in the world in terms of the number of people living with HIV. "We recognize this is a crisis, and clearly more can be done," said Dr. Kevin Fenton, who directs the CDC's HIV-prevention efforts, in a telephone interview with The New York Times. "It is a crisis that needs a new look at prevention."
Click here to read the full story from The New York Times.
Send Your Comments About This Article Now
©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.
|
|
digg this | 
mixx! | 
reddit
del.icio.us
Newsvine | 
| 
