Half of black, quarter of Latino gay men projected to be diagnosed within their lifetime. Heterosexuals not immune.I turn 50 this month, which means I am old enough to remember the outbreak of HIV/AIDS, while a freshman in college. A CDC health lecturer, and a physician, came to campus to speak with us, to inform us, and allay our terror, by providing us facts. I asked several questions during the forum, and feel that because I did, I have been able to avoid the disease... With information. Not fear. By now, the universe must know that it is not just a “gay” disease. We’re also mature enough to concede that “down-low” is real. Further, HIV/AIDS is destroying our community (mothers, fathers, and babies), from the inside, out. Nearly 85,000 African-Americans are infected with HIV, and do not know it. The statistics of blacks in Louisiana with HIV are sobering, and shocking. In 2015, statewide, 4904 black females, and 9076 black males were living with HIV infection in Louisiana. Of those cases, 846 men, and 414 women were from Shreveport. There were 521 male, and 188 female, new HIV diagnoses, statewide. 21 females, and 51 males were from Shreveport.  A .pdf distributed by National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) https://nationalblackaidsday.org states that: In Louisiana, 13,980 blacks were living with HIV infection as of December 31, 2015; 4,904 (35%) were female and 9,076 (65%) were male. Blacks make up 32% of the state’s population; however: • 69% of new HIV cases are black and 78% of new AIDS cases are black • 69% of all persons living with HIV infection are black • In all regions of Louisiana, the percentage of persons living with HIV infection who are black is significantly higher than the percentage of the general population that is black. • Among men, 67% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks, and among women, 81% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks. In Louisiana, the HIV case rate for blacks is almost nine times higher than the HIV case rate for whites. • The HIV case rate in black females is almost nine times greater than the HIV case rate for white females, and the HIV case rate in black males is five times greater than the HIV case rate for white males. • In 2015, of the new HIV diagnoses among blacks in Louisiana, 62% are men who have sex with men (MSM), 6% are injection drug users (IDU), 3% are MSM/IDU, and 30% are high risk heterosexuals. • Among men, 67% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks, and among women, 81% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks. In Louisiana, the HIV case rate for blacks is almost nine times higher than the HIV case rate for whites. • The HIV case rate in black females is almost nine times greater than the HIV case rate for white females, and the HIV case rate in black males is five times greater than the HIV case rate for white males. • In 2015, of the new HIV diagnoses among blacks in Louisiana, 62% are men who have sex with men (MSM), 6% are injection drug users (IDU), 3% are MSM/IDU, and 30% are high risk heterosexuals. • 69% of all persons living with HIV infection are black. • In all regions of Louisiana, the percentage of persons living with HIV infection who are black is significantly higher than the percentage of the general population that is black. • Among men, 67% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks, and among women, 81% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks. In Louisiana, the HIV case rate for blacks is almost nine times higher than the HIV case rate for whites. • The HIV case rate in black females is almost nine times greater than the HIV case rate for white females, and the HIV case rate in black males is five times greater than the HIV case rate for white males. • In 2015, of the new HIV diagnoses among blacks in Louisiana, 62% are men who have sex with men (MSM), 6% are injection drug users (IDU), 3% are MSM/IDU, and 30% are high risk heterosexuals.69% of all persons living with HIV infection are black • In all regions of Louisiana, the percentage of persons living with HIV infection who are black is significantly higher than the percentage of the general population that is black. • Among men, 67% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks, and among women, 81% of all new HIV diagnoses are among blacks. In Louisiana, the HIV case rate for blacks is almost nine times higher than the HIV case rate for whites. • The HIV case rate in black females is almost nine times greater than the HIV case rate for white females, and the HIV case rate in black males is five times greater than the HIV case rate for white males. • In 2015, of the new HIV diagnoses among blacks in Louisiana, 62% are men who have sex with men (MSM), 6% are injection drug users (IDU), 3% are MSM/IDU, and 30% are high risk heterosexuals.
“As alarming as these lifetime risk estimates are, they are not a foregone conclusion. They are a call to action,” said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention. “The prevention and care strategies we have at our disposal today provide a promising outlook for future reductions of HIV infections and disparities in the U.S., but hundreds of thousands of people will be diagnosed in their lifetime if we don’t scale up efforts now.” “Gay and bisexual men continue to be most affected by the HIV epidemic in the U.S. At current rates, 1 in 6 MSM will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, including 1 in 2 black MSM, 1 in 4 Latino MSM, and 1 in 11 white MSM. “African Americans are by far the most affected racial or ethnic group with a lifetime HIV risk of 1 in 20 for men (compared to 1 in 132 for whites) and 1 in 48 for women (compared to 1 in 880 for whites). “People who inject drugs are at much higher lifetime risk than the general population, and women who inject drugs have a higher risk than men (1 in 23 compared with 1 in 36). People living in the South are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV over the course of their lifetime than other Americans, with the highest risk in Washington, DC (1 in 13), Maryland (1 in 49), Georgia (1 in 51), Florida (1 in 54), and Louisiana (1 in 56). Detailed findings, including data for all states and racial/ethnic and risk groups, are available on the 2016 CROI resources page.  The goals for NBHAAD are for everyone to “Get Educated, Get Tested, Get Involved and Get Treated.”
HIV/AIDS is not an, “immediate”, death sentence--- as it once was. However, there is still no cure. Get tested. Know your risks. Educate yourself, and your loved ones. We, as black people, have enough challenges. Why would we, or allow our youth to, entertain an avoidable consequence that will eventually kill us? #YourLifeMatters Get free, confidential, testing information in our area at: HIV411.org, or call 1-800-99-AIDS-9.
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