NYC DoH's New HIV Infections
Drop 35% from 2001 to 2006
Last week I learned from San Francisco health department HIV/STD reports that annual HIV rates for the city have dropped 44% and monthly HIV stats from the City Clinic are down 27%, and seeing such dramatic declines got me curious about the figures for New York City.
To my delight, the Big Apple's HIV infections are also tumbling down. NYC's Department of Health's annual HIV epi reports show the following stats, which are from page two of the annual reports:
To my delight, the Big Apple's HIV infections are also tumbling down. NYC's Department of Health's annual HIV epi reports show the following stats, which are from page two of the annual reports:
Total HIV diagnoses: 3,745
Sub-total, HIV stats without AIDS: 2,783Total HIV diagnoses: 3,972
Sub-total, HIV stats without AIDS: 2,944Total HIV diagnoses: 3,980
Sub-total, HIV stats without AIDS: 2,936Total HIV diagnoses: 4,992
Sub-total, HIV stats without AIDS: 3,895
Total HIV diagnoses: 5,524
Sub-total, HIV stats without AIDS: 4,314
What we have here with the NYC numbers is a 32% drop in total HIV diagnoses, and a decrease of 35% in HIV stats without AIDS. I find the good news from San Francisco and New York City, arguably America's two hardest-hit cities grappling with HIV/AIDS for more than 25 years, that both metropolises are witnessing continuing and sustained falls in new infections, worth noting and wish that the press and community-based organizations would start recognizing the declines and discussing them with the gay community.
Why is it such a difficult task persuading HIV prevention and service organizations that when there are numbers in the downward stage, it is a positive development and worth heralding? Will public health officials and AIDS groups ever understand the need to not only scare gays when HIV infections are surging, but to also praise sexually active gays when prevention is working?
By the way, the colorful graphs above are from the latest semi-annual NYC DoH HIV epi report and nicely illustrated the falling HIV rates for all age categories, except two of them. The text under the graphs explains that new HIV (non-AIDS) have declined overall since 2001, but that for men ages 13-19 and 20-29 have increased, while for women ages 13-19 and 20-29 have either remained the same or climbed in 2005 and 2006.
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