Update: Trends in AIDS Incidence, Deaths, and Prevalence--United States, 1996

Abstract:
This report presents trends in AIDS incidence during 1996 and describes recent declines in deaths among persons reported with AIDS and increases in AIDS prevalence. From 1994 through 1995, estimated AIDS-opportunistic illnesses incidence was approximately constant among men who have sex with men and among heterosexual injecting-drug users but increased substantially among persons infected through heterosexual contact. During January-June 1996, the estimated number of AIDS deaths was 13% less than that estimated during January-June 1995, and the number of deaths declined in each of the four regions of the U.S. and among all racial/ethnic groups. As of June 1996, the estimated prevalence of AIDS was 223,000 U.S. residents at least 13 years of age, representing a 10% increase since mid-1995. This increase reflects declines in AIDS deaths and stable AIDS incidence. Because the clinical status of most HIV-infected persons has not yet progressed to AIDS, AIDS prevalence underestimates the total number of HIV-infected persons, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists recommends that all states consider implementing surveillance for both HIV infection and AIDS. Future trends in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. will reflect the effectiveness of programs to prevent new HIV infections, to promote timely diagnosis, and to continue improving clinical management.

Publication: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Vol. 46, No. 8, pp. 165-173


Date Published: 2/28/1997

Pages: 9

Location Code: 14118