Study: Estimate on H.I.V. infection is 40 percent higher than previously believed.
Study: Estimate on H.I.V. infection is 40 percent higher than previously believed.
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that “the United States has significantly underreported the number of new H.I.V. infections occurring nationally each year.” According to the study, “the annual infection rate is 40 percent higher than previously estimated.” The CDC knew the numbers in October, but waited for them to be released in a peer-reviewed journal:
The C.D.C. has known of the new figures since last October when the authors completed a manuscript and sent it to the first of three journals. But the agency refused to release the findings until they were published in a peer reviewed medical journal. The first two journals rejected the authors’ request for a fast-track review.
The paper is being published in the Aug. 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. The journal and the disease centers had planned to release it at a news conference on Sunday at the opening of the 17th International AIDS Conference here. But the paper was released on Saturday because the embargo was broken. A number of leading health experts have criticized the agency for not releasing the information earlier. Last Nov. 21, C.D.C officials told AIDS advocacy groups and reporters that the data would be released soon.
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We cannot have servants of the public withholding information from us, telling lies to the public, misleading the public–we need strong oversight and tools to punish with!
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:03 pmBut I thought the administration push for abstinence was working. How could it fail with god on their side?
snark/
Add to the causes the lack of funding for free condoms at clinics and college campuses and the voices of Family Values people (like Senators Craig and Vitter).
I suppose an apt phrase would be “You get what you pay for”.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pmThe toe tappers are “under the radar”.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm#2 Not that there is anything wrong with free condoms at clinics and college campuses but at some point people have to use common sense and take responsibility for themselves. Condoms are widely avaliable to anyone who want’s to buy them. Blaming stupid Family Values freaks for one’s own lack of common sense is just a cop out.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:26 pmBC- well, it would be, if it weren’t for the fact that part of the “family values” crap they sell is a refusal to allow the real facts to be taught. Kids can’t be expected to exercize common sense if they’ve never been taught it.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmGosh, how can the knee-jerk, homophobe right-wingers blame this on gay marriage?
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm“AIDS” schmaids… The medical establishment and Center for Disease Control (CDC) fantasy of an HIV-AIDS link:
Over twenty years ago, the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, raised its HIV umbrella over more than twenty traditional independent diseases which they then lumped together and called “AIDS.” They asserted that this HIV could somehow cause over more than twenty different diseases. Amazing. Actually all of these traditional diseases are caused by heavy and continued drug abuse. If you take enough toxic recreational drugs, eventually your immune system becomes severely weakened and these various diseases can take hold. In 1996 Peter Duesberg, a professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California at Berkeley, published a brilliant expose in his book entitled, Inventing the AIDS Virus. For his troubles, he was ostracized both academically and socially. The medical establishment is unwilling to face up to the fact that their whole HIV/AIDS theory is a fraud.
Please go to the public library and borrow a copy of Professor Duesberg’s book, Inventing the AIDS Virus.
You can also search the internet for “rethinking AIDS” or “Duesberg” and you will find much solid information on this vast medical fraud and hoax.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmRethuglican spin:
“See, we told you those same sex marriages wouldn’t work.”
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pmBet this late release was designed for election purposes. The scare of an epidemic. The blame to be put on the poor segment of society, the big population centers. More reasons for more control.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:50 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pmI would like you to explain to me how My Brother, a very fit and healthy,never used drugs heterosexual was killed by AIDS after contracting HIV from a blood transfusion.
HOAX SCHMOAX!
I missing something here. The CDC has a couple of very respected journals (in fact, with higher citation indicies than JAMA) that would be perfect for this data. There is the weekly MMWR for example.
If the rate of AIDS is higher than we thought, their various statistical publications of the CDC would be the perfect sport for releasing the data.
I can see them wanting to get scrutiny on the numbers, but I don’t see why they would embargo the info for almost a year rather than releasing it.
The only thing I can see is if they are worried about politicization has made the CDC loose prestige (true – especially with recent suggested Surgeon Generals) or if they had the data and were prevented in getting it out through their normal channels.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pmJust another case of Bushbots protecting dogma by suppressing science. Galileo didn’t face the obstacles put in the way of inconvenient research today. And that’s what makes them dangerous and impossible to negotiate with.
They Believe their ideas work despite the evidence. Just like they Believe AIDS is a curse for sinning. To a Reichwinger, AIDS victims aren’t even really human.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pmPart of the reason for the politicization is that many new HIV infections are among people of color as well as men who have sex with men. Given the profoundly racist, homophobic nature of this country, it is little surprise. Many people that need care will get substandard care (often true of African American women who do not see HIV specialists as a recent report underscored). Many people that need care have no insurance or are under-insured, as is true for so many of us.
Treatment is outrageously costly here as a result of the chronic, persistent economic rape and genocide being carried out by pharmaceutical companies in their pursuit of profit.
Oh–and to the denialist poster. Well, I knew a couple that was convinced that HIV did not cause AIDS. David P and Michael B–you should ask them about that! Only trouble is they both died of AIDS. Denialism is abject bullcrap and a good way to deflect from the real problems, ranging from poverty, economic rape of developing countries, oppression, the Gag Rule against working with sex workers (and their criminalization), the insane criminalization of some drugs (but not alcohol, tobacco or antidepressants), lack of needle exchange programs and, as others have mentioned, psychotic fundamentalists pushing “abstinence only” programs that have been proven to work JUST as well as Nancy Reagan’s “just say no” drug policy.
And the CDC has been turned into a political tool to satisfy the vile urges of Cheney and the lot of global warming denialists as well–so this is no surprise.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pmContrary to popular myth it is possible to contract HIV/AIDS from a toilet seat. just ask the guy who sat down before the first one got up.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:31 pmAnd the CDC has been turned into a political tool to satisfy the vile urges of Cheney and the lot of global warming denialists as well–so this is no surprise.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The Busheviks have politicized EVERY dept, bureau, office, and desk in the whole federal Govt. It will take 30 years for them all to die off. What we need to do is to block the exits and raze the buildings…
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pmGeorge @ 13, you’re my kinda thinking fella.
Bang ON!
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pmI lost two cousins and an aunt through HIV because they were guilty of having contracted hemophilia by virtue of a genetic defect and subsequently through transfusions and an uncertain blood supply developed AIDS and did not lead a full life. But, then, none were prenatal.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 pm#13,GeorgeM Says:
——————————————————————————–
Part of the reason for the politicization is that many new HIV infections are among people of color as well as men who have sex with men.
Did you know that the Hassidic community in the NYC area is beset with AIDS? It’s hidden away and not spoken about and because the drugs pretty much work no one knows.
They are not gay and not people of color!!!!
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:54 pm#13,GeorgeM Says:
——————————————————————————–
Part of the reason for the politicization is that many new HIV infections are among people of color as well as men who have sex with men.
So all of the children with AIDS are gay or born from “people of color?”
YOU SEEM TO BE A GREAT BIG A$$ BIGOT…TRUE?
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 pmFrom the article:
“’H.I.V. prevention has been underfunded and too often hindered by politics and ideology,’ Mr. Waxman said in a statement released Saturday.” Also, “Infection rates among blacks were found to be seven times as high as for whites and almost three times as high as for Hispanics…” And this “One-fourth of infected people do not know they are infected because they have not been tested for evidence of the virus.”
Yet another legacy that can be added to the growing list from the absolute worst president in American history.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pmdixie blood…you need a cold shower, dear heart.
Many children are people of color. some are HIV+. some may live to be same sex loving. I was a child once as were you. HIV certainly doesn’t discriminate and yes, HIV can be found in EVERY community. I was referring to the disproportionate nature of the pandemic and the concomitant failure of the US government to deal with the domestic HIV crisis in a comprehensive way. Testing for HIV disease is good–but NOT mandatory testing. And not without adequate funding for counseling, education, sex education in schools….we need to start funding PEOPLE and not just machines and Wall Street parasites.
While the Bush PEPFAR program, for example, may be given some praise, it still has largely served as a tool for funding fundamentalists and big pharma. Millions more could be treated.
And at the end of the day, what we need is a CURE. For all living with this disease and all who one day may face it. Women, men, children. From the South Bronx to South India, from Zimbabwe to Boise.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pmAnd they waited why??
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pmCondoms are widely avaliable to anyone who want’s to buy them. Blaming stupid Family Values freaks for one’s own lack of common sense is just a cop out.
So, what about the people who can’t afford to buy them? Too bad so sad?
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pmSorry for the OT but, I find this news to be very unsettling. Pakistan, and it’s nukes, will be a problem for the next President, and the next 20. And I guess it’s not really off the topic of our elected government doing crappy things and covering it up.
http://www.juancole.com/2008/08/isi-linked-to-indian-embassy-bombing.html
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm# 21,
Thanks for backing down from your previous racist, homophobic rant or diatribe, or whatever it was.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pmGeorge. I think that dixie blood was addressing the problem with people writing off AIDS victims because of stereotypes and the prejudice they feed.
If, by a twist of fate, AIDS had arrived in this country via an Ivy League frat boy who got wild on safari, and the initial outbreak had been among his conquests and the subjects of their indiscretions? There would be more spending on AIDS research than national defense.
But, despite the fact that the debutante daughters of defense contractors face the same risk as anyone, it’s a low priority because of where it first showed up in our society. And that kind of thinking condemns people to die, who may have been saved.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm#23, then wait until you have a few bucks and go buy some. If you know condoms work but don’t have one, or the money to buy one at the moment but still DECIDE to not wait, and have sex and get AIDS from it, you shouldn’t start blaming clinic’s, and college’s for not giving you a condom.
I understand how hard it is for the far left to not understand personal responsibility but at some point no matter how hard it is or how much they hate it their going to half to start practicing it.
I’m all for free condoms from clinics, and at college’s as well. But with the easy access to the Internet there should be no one who isn’t at least asking questions about sex, AIDS, protection, ect… Even if they only ask questions in chat rooms, or forums from many sites that are different than their pre conceived beliefs. People need to start empowering themselves. If they don’t then there will never be any helping them to help themselves.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:07 pmI think there is a point in what 27 is saying insofar as personal responsibility forms a part of stemming the spread. And the way to develop that zeitgeist in the community (wherever that community is–the gay community, man, white, black, latino, southeast Asian, south Asian) – is to have a robust PUBLIC policy. Not one based on lies. CDC removed references about condoms. Psycho xtians block frank discussions in schools. Access to condoms in our outrageous, racist prison system is denied. Needle exchange programs are thwarted instead of being funded. More people are put in jail for non-violent drug offenses–and in a disproportionately racist way.
It needs to be BOTH personal responsibility AND community, from local grassroots to national. It needs to be based on evidence-based approaches that are known to work.
Again, tho, Bush/Cheney have turned science on its head in pursuit of fantasies rooted in imperialism, greed, racism and abject stupidity. They are dinosaurs–but their eventual extinction may also mean the extinction of our species. Fools like them abound.
And even WITH all that, safer sex isn’t a guarantee. Shit happens. I’d rather live in a world that cares about members of our community, of our world, than one that seeks to merely cast blame (like we’re not all mortal) or worse, wield the tools of oppression.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pmIt’s no use gang. They’re on to us. They laid bare our dastardly scheme to redistribute wealth by using tax dollars for contraception/STD prevention.
Of course that has nothing to do with why our elected government has constantly tried to suppress any research that shows the flaws in their “logic”. Medicine, energy, environment, and science in general. To Bushco, and the simpering idiots from Regent U they appointed, dogma trumps data.
I’m not being cruel, or partisan, when I call them delusional. That’s the only word that applies to people who deny their own senses, when it doesn’t match their politics and other Beliefs, to the point where they Believe they have Answers which evade brilliant scientists for a lifetime.
Then they have the gall to think their idiot heroes in the culture wars know when to reject those scientists after they’ve found something which doesn’t compute in Reichworld? It’s truly a case of arrogance bred of ignorance.
And the fact they are devoid of empathy or compassion only makes it worse.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pmIs there any incentive for big pharma to find a cure for AIDS when they can sell multiple drugs needed to ease the affects of AIDS? We now see drug resistant bacterial infections, new weird emerging skin infections that can not even be diagnosed,… and yet, big pharma can not seem to make enough erectile dysfunction drugs.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pmWe desperately need to end all the for profit crap and get down to business.
I couldn’t agree more, George, except for a triviality. I don’t think we can overstress that an epidemic crosses all social lines. You should have stopped with, “have a robust PUBLIC policy”, without the qualifiers. So long as narrow-minded people are given an apparent out they’ll bolt for the door that says, “only the others can catch it”. Statistics aren’t helpful if you’re one in a million.
So long as a sizable portion of the public Believes that they aren’t at risk? No policy will have much chance.
Heh! I wonder how the “no free condoms” camp would react to a “condom tax for AIDS research and prevention”. Personally, at my age, a nickel per condom would not be a hardship and I’d be happy to help those less fortunate than myself.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmIn about an hour, Karel will be on KGO.com. As an openly gay man who talks much about his husband and friends he has lost to AIDS and appears to well read on the subject, will most likely do a rant on this topic.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pmYAY “had enough”! And Pete–I disagree. It HAS to be both. Part of the reason we had early success in the gay community in the U.S. in the 80s and early 90s was because our COMMUNITY did a lot to spread the word. That word should have been sustained with public policy but indeed was fought (and still is).
We should not be spending a billion a month on stupid Occupation brought to us with lies and botched. We SHOULD be spending our money on Universal Healthcare. Prevention AND treatment programs. Raising our aid to developing nations to 0.7%. Teaching kids how to prevent HIV. Having price controls on drugs, devices and diagnostics.
But you’re right, Pete, that the focus of the prevention piece should have two aspects. One the more general one to the broader population along WITH a focused one on populations among whom infection risk is higher.
Oh, here’s a good one:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/20080724_aids_and_the_myth_of_the_oversexed_negro/
Anyway, the government has utterly abrogated its credibility. The CDC is a lapdog of Cheney. NIH and FDA beholden to pharma. And pharma has turned the science of clinical studies into a charade of marketing tools.
I’m beginning to think the hole we have dug is too deep. Indeed, I kinda think it’s our collective grave. It is sad. We were truly a bizarre and fascinating species…but the flaws we all inherently suffer are magnified in the hands of a few that wield great power and care for nothing but their great exultation, a meaningless joke in the end.
Can we turn it around in time? I hope…but I doubt it. But it is SO good to see the great hearts and comments on this site (which I often read and I apologize for the length of these discussions–but it has been my work for over 18 years as a gay man living with hepatitis C and no insurance and one who has watched way too many remarkable, wonderful people–men, women, children of every ethnicity–face great suffering and death far too soon.)
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pmOT But something to sleep on:
How did Bentonite help get us mired in Iraq???
Glen Greenwald does it again. ABC News has some explaining to do.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/index.html
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 pmYou won’t get any argument from me George. We’re really talking about the same thing. I guess my point is that we need to drive society away from the whole idea that sex is a taboo subject to deal with “delicate subjects” like STD prevention and/or gay rights issues. Our wonderful, wacky, species (especially the subspecies endemic to the United States!) needs to grow up.
As for the race as a whole? I find comfort that there are others who are wiser than we are, and fanaticism is cyclical. Despite the damage that fools have done, and can do, I still think smart, wise, sane, people are the safe long-term bet. I know that I’ve had a more positive outlook since I canceled cable and stopped listening to the braying jackasses of the corporate media.
Imported beer helps too!
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pmI read a thing in the oakland chronicle about a study that found that blacks are more susceptible to HIV becoming AIDS. also a liil tidbit about all the bat shit crazy nonsense going on about
RFID chips
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 pmThe article said so much more.
chimpy strikes again!
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 pmold_hack Says:
I read a thing in the oakland chronicle about a study that found that blacks are more susceptible to HIV becoming AIDS. also a liil tidbit about all the bat shit crazy nonsense going on about
RFID chips
Tell that to Magic Johnson.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 pmChrist? Listen to Obama stutter and yea I don’t think the study included black Millionaires…
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 pmAh yes. Good ol’ paranoia.
I used to be paranoid until I realized that the world-wide conspiracy against Reichradio and Evangelicons couldn’t possibly spare the manpower to eff up my life. At least they’re good for something besides comic relief.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 pmBug Chasers.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pmAnd what do you want to bet that a disproportionate amount of this under reporting is in the African-American population.
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 amMaybe Bruce Ivans invented HIV in his free time, to get rid of them damn liberal types. Funny how the MSM isn’t really addressing the political nature of his targets. Takes a real sociopath to be a winger.
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 amRandomChaos Says:
Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
I would like you to explain to me how My Brother, a very fit and healthy,never used drugs heterosexual was killed by AIDS after contracting HIV from a blood transfusion.
HOAX SCHMOAX!
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm Add Karma Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
I am sorry for your brother, but the ‘heterosexual’ quip is the kind of BS that I have to deal with my whole life. Only the gays get AIDS right? It’s God’s punishment right? Straight people don’t get it or deserve it right?? Majority of AIDS cases in the world are heterosexual.
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 amI guess we can call this what it is.
A sign that Bush’s precious abstinence-only programs are a failure.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 amI am not blaming stupid family values freaks for anyone’s lack of common sense, I am blaming stupid family values freaks for keeping the truth hidden from the public for thier own vindictive agenda.
righties always accuse the left of having an agenda, well we do, it is to make sure the truth is being told and not just one side of the story.
family values freaks are driving right wing legislators to keep the truth from average Americans because of their homophobia.
republicans and right wingers are not nice people. In life I notice that the people I want to spend time with, those who care about life and people are progressives.
The ones who want to control my life, even though they can’t run thier own are always conservatives.
Common sense and responsibility means more than just looking out for number one.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 amThis reminds me so much of thr Reagan administration where they would not even acknowledge the existence of AIDS.
Bush has acted as though the battle against AIDS had been won. Well, as this study so clearly shows, it has not. “Just say no” is not an educational program. Sometimes you have to do what is right and morally correct rather than following the commands of your homophobic base.
The next obvious question is what segment of the population is most under reported and why. It would come as no shock to me to learn that the under reporting is disproportionatly concentrated in the African-American community.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 amtyler82 Says: @44
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pmT82, no you are completly incorrect. Sorry I did not make it clear. Not meant as a “Quip”, but to point out the fact that it is NOT only the Gay/Poor/Black etc… It affects ALL humankind. Contrary to what you may have construed from my comment, I am not a religious homophobic racist. Sorry my comment gave you that impression, but I hope this clears it up.
Cheers
______
Fred Says:
Common sense and responsibility means more than just looking out for number one.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
______
Yes it does, but it includes looking out for number one rather than asking the govt to do it instead.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm