The latest statistics on the world epidemic of AIDS and HIV were published by
the United Nations AIDS / World Health Organization in November 2006. It is estimated
that 39.5 million people are living with HIV / AIDS. Furthermore, the estimate of newly-infected
adults in 2006 is 3.8 million, while 2.9 million people worldwide died of AIDS during the year.
Equally sobering, 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
While women account for 48% of all HIV infected people, about 6,000 young people under the age
of 25 are infected every day - half of all new HIV infections in 2006. In North America, 43,000
people became infected and 18,000 deaths occurred in 2006. For Central and Western Europe, 22,000
new infections and 12,000 deaths have occurred. Go to http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm for
worldwide statistics by region for 2006. Clearly, education is a key to reducing the spread of
HIV throughout the world!
In the United States, 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year. 47% of these cases are directly
identified as male-to-male (or men who have sex with men) sexual contact. In the 21 countries of
Western Europe, it is estimated that 31% of new infections occur among homosexual / bisexual men
and another 9% are the result of injection-drug use. There continues to be a great risk of HIV
infection for gay men worldwide!
HIV can be transmitted in 3 ways ~ Sexual contact, transmission through semen and blood, and mother-to-child
transmission. For gay men, we can reduce or eliminate the risk of HIV transmission by abstaining from sex,
by having only one sexual partner (monogamy) or only a few partners, or by consistently and correctly using
latex condoms to block the sharing of body fluids (semen and blood). As New York’s Gay Men’s Health Crisis
tells us, “Knowledge is Power!” You can learn more about preventing the transmission of HIV by clicking
on either of these links, http://www.gmhc.org or http://www.sfdph.org/sfcityclinic/stdbasics
The bottom line ~ when having sex, never exchange body fluids! That means always use a condom for sex,
do not bareback, and know your HIV status and the HIV status of your sexual partner! Get tested for
HIV infection on a regular basis (every 3 - 6 months). These tests are free in thousands of places all
over the world, including health departments and outreach centers for gay men, and confidentially through
your private physician for a fee. Keep informed about HIV information and statistics, because education
is the key to preventing transmission of the virus throughout the gay men’s community!
Important Links:
» http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
» http://www.gmhc.org
» http://www.sfdph.org/sfcityclinic/stdbasics
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