HIV and AIDS

This information sheet discusses the importance of bringing HIV and STD prevention programs into schools so adolescents can make healthy choices. It also provides information on CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). Topics include: schools play a critical role in HIV and STD prevention; prevention programs can reduce risk behaviors; DASH promotes effective prevention through schools; National HIV/AIDS Strategy; and Dash's programs are data driven and evidence based.

This information sheet points out that the fungus Cryptococcus is the most common cause of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a leading cause of death among people with HIV. Although it is not possible to prevent the initial infection with Cryptococcus, screening for cryptococcal antigen can detect disease before meningitis develops so treatment can begin and prevent death. A rapid, point-of-care dipstick test is now available for use in screening.

This information sheet presents new estimates of the annual number of new HIV infections (HIV incidence) in the United States released by CDC in August 2011. The estimates, for 2006 through 2009, are the first multi-year estimates using CDC’s national HIV incidence surveillance methodology, which is based on direct measurement of new HIV infections using a laboratory test (the BED HIV-1 Capture Enzyme Immunoassay) that can classify new diagnoses as either recent or long-standing HIV infections.

This internet electronic file is an web site-based information kit that functions as a centralized location for all resources pertaining to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). Tool 1 provides an overview of the Strategy and related public sector initiatives; Tool 2 presents recommended actions for funders to help advance the goals of the NHAS; and Tool 3 gives correlating examples of funder and stakeholder actions. Users can learn about the NHAS, explore what others are doing, connect partners to the resource, and share by adding their work to the toolkit.

This information sheet summarizes the key findings of the new analysis of the CDC’s new estimates of the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States. The new analysis was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of September 12, 2008. The results of the analysis shows that among gay and bisexual men, young African Americans and Whites in their 30s and 40s are most affected, African American women are more affected than women of other races, and men account for the majority of new HIV infection among Hispanics/Latinos.

This report discusses community health centers (CHCs) in routine HIV testing consistent with the 2006 recommendations issued by CDC. It explains why it is important for CHCs to routinely offer HIV testing and provides general protocol elements for facility-based HIV testing, such as ensuring confidentiality, implementing alternatives to opt-out HIV testing, testing alternatives and procedures, encouraging patients to return if a confirmatory HIV test is performed, and providing test results to patients.

This report provides a short history of the discovery of HIV/AIDS and the present epidemiology and US National HIV/AIDS strategy.

This report summarizes results of CDC’s analysis of data from the National HIV Surveillance System on the 30th anniversary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The report characterizes trends in HIV infection and AIDS in the United States during 1981-2008. Results indicate that in the first 14 years, sharp increases were reported in the number of new AIDS diagnoses and deaths reaching highs of 75,457 in 1992 and 50,628 in 1995. However with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, AIDS diagnoses and deaths declined substantially from 1995-1998, and remained stable from 1999-2008.

This report describes the results of CDC’s analysis of HIV testing conducted in 21 cities as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) to assess whether MSM were tested as recommended (at least annually) and whether more frequent testing was indicated. Results indicated that of 7,271 MSM interviewed and tested, who had not reported a previous positive HIV test, 61 percent had been tested during the past 12 months. Of these, seven percent had a new, positive HIV test result when tested as part of NHBS.