HIV diagnoses rise significantly in black and Latino men
The rate of HIV diagnoses in black and Latino men who have sex with men has skyrocketed, according to figures released by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
According to the new figures there has been a 24 percent increase in new HIV diagnoses among Latino men between 2005 and 2014.
There has also been a 22 percent rise in new HIV diagnoses among black men during the same period, but the rise plateaued in 2010.
Meanwhile, there has been a 20 percent drop among white men, and other groups have remained stable.
HIV testing rates have remained at the same level since 2005 according to the CDC’s division of HIV/AIDS prevention director Eugene McCray, who believes that the data suggests that the increase is due to higher rates of the virus in the Latino community.
McCray told The Verge “Is it because the prevention interventions are just not getting to that group in a way that’s effective?
“We’re going to be looking at that very carefully.”
The most significant rises were found in Latino and black men between the ages of 13 and 24, who saw an 87% rise in diagnoses between 2005 and 2013.
HIV rates in the Asia-Pacific region have also increased significantly.
According to a recent UN report this is believed to be due to the proliferation of dating apps in the region.
Back in September the World Health Organisation upped it’s backing of drugs that can prevent HIV infections and recommended that all at risks groups including men who have sex with men begin taking them.
The Human Dignity Trust recently stated in a new report that the global HIV/AIDS crisis will be “impossible to overcome” as long as anti-LGBT laws remain in place.
