New AIDS Infection Estimate Is A "Wake-Up Call"

About 55,000 Americans are infected with HIV each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number had been thought to be 40,000 a year, until a new, more accurate blood test was introduced. The new test can tell how long ago an infection occurred.

The CDC report also found that HIV infections are falling among injection drug users. Some experts are giving the credit to prevention efforts including syringe exchange, while at the same time calling for additional funding to expand them. Many populations continue to be at high risk, including gay and bisexual men, those under 30, and African Americans.

Whether more funding comes or not, the revised estimate clearly is a "wake-up call to scale things up," said Dr. Kevin Fenton, who oversees CDC's prevention efforts for HIV/AIDS.

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