Reported new HIV/AIDS cases continue to increase in Minnesota, and a disproportionate and growing number of them are men and women of color, the state Department of Health announced yesterday. Compared to whites, the infection rate among US-born blacks is 13 times higher, and among African-born blacks the rate is 28 times higher, the new report found.
"After several years of decline, we've been seeing a gradual increase in new cases since 2001," said Luisa Pessoa-Brandao, the department's HIV/AIDS surveillance coordinator.
In 2007, Minnesota recorded 325 new HIV/AIDS cases, the highest number since 1995. Since 2001, cases among males ages 13-24 have more than doubled, from 18 to 38 in 2007. The number of US-born black male cases jumped from 36 in 2006 to 54 last year, a 42 percent increase. Africa-born male cases grew by 33 percent, from 18 in 2006 to 24 in 2007. In the same time frame, the number of white male cases increased slightly, from 125 to 129, and Hispanic male cases dropped from 37 to 33.
The report cited lack of education and health care, poverty, racism, and drug use as possible causes for the disproportionate number of cases among minorities.
Among the 325 new cases, 249 were males, of whom 52 percent were white, 32 percent black, 13 percent Hispanic, and 3 percent other races. Among the 76 female cases, 54 percent were black, 26 percent white, 9 percent Hispanic, 7 percent American Indian, and 4 percent other races.
04/16/08
MINNESOTA: Number of State HIV Cases Highest Since ‘95
Source: Star Tribune:: Warren Wolfe; Courtesy of the CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention