HIV infections in black gay men have seen a steady decline. Overall diagnoses of HIV have fallen in the United States, and the rates for gay or bisexual black men is less than 1%. As for younger black gay men, the level of diagnoses has dropped 2% since 2010.
There Were About 40,000 Cases Diagnosed in 2014
Only 10,000 of the total cases of HIV diagnosed concerned black gay men, and the new numbers are a sure cause for hope. The stabilization of this rate gives headway to further improvements in medical care. Better treatments will help HIV infected people get lower levels of the virus in their blood, which will make them less infectious.
Most groups have seen a decline in the rate of diagnoses, but some have seen a rise. Gay Hispanic men, for one, have seen an increase in HIV diagnoses. This should have the same effect as the news of declining rates, which also concern bisexual white men, heterosexuals and people who contact the disease through the injection of drugs.
Better Treatments for HIV Are Important To Keep Figures Down
In 2014, about 27,000 gay and bisexual men were diagnosed HIV positive. An additional 10,000 heterosexuals and 2,000 injection drug users were diagnosed. The importance of getting all patients to good treatment to help keep them on solid ground and prevent them from being too infectious is still prevalent.
Many say that these announcements are not cause for joy nor for sorrow. It just calls for more work. Patients and the medical community should both work together to ensure that patients get the best care possible, and that patients are diagnosed in a timely manner. It’s also important that all cases are reported, as it helps communities better adjust to treatments and medicines needed to keep patients in good health and keep them safe from further harm.
