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HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and Around the WorldFacts at a Glance
HIV/AIDS in the United StatesThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 850,000-950,000 people are living with HIV in the U.S. Of those, the CDC estimates that 180,000-240,000 do not know they are infected, and 300,000 of those with HIV who do know their status are not receiving HIV-related care. Forty percent of HIV-infected people in the U.S. begin antiretroviral treatment later than is recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service As a result, five percent of all AIDS cases are diagnosed within a month of a patient’s death. The number of people with AIDS has increased as better treatments help to keep people with AIDS living longer. Of those infected with HIV, an estimated 385,000 were living with AIDS at the end of 2002, more than at any other time in the epidemic and an increase of 6 percent over the past year. As the numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS increase, the need for care and prevention services rises, as well.
Devastation in Communities of ColorThe devastation of AIDS in communities of color continues to grow. AIDS remains the leading killer of African Americans between the ages of 25-44, the third leading cause of death among Latinos in this age group. In communities of color, youth, men who have sex with men and injection drug users are disproportionately impacted by HIV. African American women are 23 times more likely to develop AIDS than white women.  Cost of Medical CareRecent data estimate the annual cost of medical care for a person with early stage HIV disease and on highly active antiretroviral therapy to be $15,404; for those with late-stage AIDS, the annual cost is $30,261. Stigma Still Hinders Effective ResponseSince the beginning of the epidemic, prejudice and stigma have hindered HIV prevention initiatives and efforts aimed at encouraging people with HIV to learn their serostatus and enter the care system. Sadly, prejudice and stigma continue to thrive. One in four in the U.S. still believes that “people who get AIDS have gotten what they deserve,” one in five is afraid of people with AIDS, and one in six is “disgusted” by them. Research and anecdotal experience make clear that stigma keeps people at risk for HIV from learning their HIV status and seeking appropriate care and, as a result, they do not receive the care and prevention information they need. Global Toll Soars as Pandemic Claims Millions Each YearGlobally, HIV/AIDS has reached pandemic proportions. Today, an estimated 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and HIV infects an additional 13,000 people every day. In 2003, HIV/AIDS claimed more than 3 million lives, and an estimated 5 million people acquired the virus. Ninety-five percent of those infected live in the developing world and a third are between the ages of 15 and 24. A total of 25 million people worldwide have already died of HIV/AIDS. 2.3 million people died last year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Best current projections suggest that an additional 45 million people will become infected with HIV in 126 low- and middle- income countries between 2002 and 2006. The impact of the epidemic on young people is tremendous––approximately half of new HIV infections are among people aged 15–24 years, with women below the age of 24 particularly vulnerable. In the hardest hit countries, teenage girls are five to six times more likely to be infected than boys their age.
Key LinksCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Program Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS State Health Facts Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet: The Global Impact of HIV/AIDS on Youth |
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