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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 1, 2005 |
Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286 |
Statement by Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC Director
World AIDS Day, December 1, 2005
Nearly 25 years into the AIDS epidemic, our nation continues to face
complex challenges in the fight against HIV. The number of people living with
HIV in the United States has reached an all-time high at more than one
million and worldwide about 40 million people are living with HIV.
One-quarter of those Americans do not even realize they are infected, and an
estimated 40,000 new infections continue to occur every year in the U.S. In
addition, HIV continues to disproportionately affect African Americans and
men who have sex with men.
But on this World AIDS Day there are also reasons for optimism. The latest
CDC research demonstrate the dramatic success of efforts to prevent
mother-to-infant HIV transmission in the U.S., as pediatric AIDS cases
reached an all time low in 2004, with only 48 cases reported. Additionally,
research on new HIV diagnoses from 33 states suggest that comprehensive HIV
prevention efforts for injection drug users are working. In addition, more
people worldwide are being tested and receiving lifesaving treatments thanks
to the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Many state and local communities across the U.S. are reporting encouraging
signs of growing acceptance of HIV testing, expanded use of proven HIV
prevention interventions, and innovative new approaches to reaching
populations now at greatest risk. Building upon this progress will be
critical.
On World AIDS Day, let us recommit ourselves to protecting the health of
everyone from this terrible disease. Our efforts to support a comprehensive
approach to combating HIV are guided by two essential goals: decreasing the
number of new HIV infections, and increasing the number of HIV infected
individuals who learn their status and are linked to care and ongoing
prevention services. To this end, CDC is partnering with national, state, and
local organizations throughout the U.S. to achieve these goals.
But, clearly, more remains to be done, and all of us government,
communities, academia, and advocates have a critical role to play. Today,
and every day, we must all commit to making a future without AIDS something
we will all live to see. |
