The latest data on HIV from the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention found that nine out of the top 10 states in new infections are in the South.
The CDC also noted that the number of men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 13-29 diagnosed with HIV rose three percent annually between 2008 and 2016. In this group, 49 percent of the diagnoses are African American, 25 percent Latino, and 14 percent white.
Veteran AIDS activist Larry Kramer called the statistics “appalling.”
The CDC is urging all sexually active MSM to get tested at least once a year and get prompt treatment if positive. The uninfected have the option of taking PrEP (Truvada) to prevent HIV infection.
New York City’s data is more encouraging. There were just 2,279 new HIV diagnoses in 2016, down from 6,000 in 2000.
Elsewhere, China is seeing a 14 percent surge in HIV diagnoses.