Nationwide HIV Infections Slowed in 2021, CDC Reports
Annual HIV infections in the U.S. slowed in 2021, according to an annual report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As reported by CBS News, the report found that around 32,100 Americans were newly infected by HIV in 2021, dropping 12% from about 36,500 infections in 2017.
The figures were provided by the CDC's National HIV Surveillance System, which analyzes data collected from local health departments on routine testing.
With infection rates seeing a noticeable slowdown for 2019, health officials are concerned, however, that COVID-19 has played a role in lowering testing rates, lowering the number of people diagnosed in effect.
"The ongoing impact of the pandemic on HIV testing, diagnoses, and treatment has varied by jurisdiction, with some recovering more slowly than others. In 2021, some jurisdictions' levels of HIV testing, diagnoses, and treatment remained below pre-COVID—19 levels," the CDC reports.
According to the CDC, the biggest slowdown of HIV infection rates can be contributed to young gay and bisexual males. "Some 6,100 teens and young adults, ages 13 to 24 years old, were infected in 2021. That is down from 9,300 in 2017," CBS News reports.
In that group, HIV infections also declined across multiple racial and ethnic groups.
"Decreasing HIV incidence among youth, including young gay and bisexual males, shows us what is possible. But ending the HIV epidemic and achieving equity requires we expand this progress to all," said Jonathan Mermin in a statement. He is head of CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
Rates of new HIV infections were highest among Americans ages 25 to 34 years old, followed by those 35 to 44 years old. However, both groups did not experience significant increases in infection rates.
"In 2021, Black/African American persons made up approximately 12% of the population of the United States but accounted for 40% of new HIV infections. White persons made up 61% of the population of the United States but accounted for 26% of new HIV infections," the report's authors noted.
Among those living with HIV in 2021, the report found more than a third did not have access to viral suppression medication to help them reach undetectable levels of virus in their body.
In a statement, Robyn Neblett Fanfair, acting head of the CDC's Division of HIV Prevention, shared: "At least three people in the U.S. get HIV every hour—at a time when we have more effective prevention and treatment options than ever before."
The CDC says an estimated 1.2 million Americans are in one or more risk groups that could benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, drugs to head off catching HIV from sex or injecting drugs. Of them, only 30% are being prescribed PrEP.