More disturbing information from this national health care report.

Between 850,000 and 950,000 individuals are infected with HIV in the U.S, an estimated quarter of who are unaware that they are infected. Each year, about 40,000 people acquire HIV infection. Since the use of the drug therapy to treat HIV infection became widespread in 1996, new AIDS cases declined among the mid-1990’s to 2001, but then leveled off in 2002. Since its emergence 500,000 Americans have died from AIDS, including over 16,000 in 2002.

AIDS incidences and death rates vary by race and ethnicity. Blacks make up 12% of the population in the U.S., but they accounted for 50% of the new AIDS cases reported in the U.S. in 2002. Hispanics also have higher AIDS incidence compared with whites. AIDS is the leading cause of death among black women 25 to 34 and black men 35 to 44.