HIV/AIDS Statistics Analysis

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of its host. HIV can weaken the immune system to the point where the host develops an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can takes years for HIV to develop into AIDS.

Population

• According to Avert.org, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at the end of 2007, there were 599,819 people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in 37 states and five U.S. dependent areas." The CDC also estimates that in 2007 there were 470,902 people living with AIDS. One of five people is unaware of being infected with HIV.

Deaths

• Since 1981, over 25 million people in the world have died from AIDS. In 2008 alone it's estimated that over two million people in the world died from this illness. Death from AIDS is more prevalent in societies with poor health care and economic hardship.

Categories

• According to the CDC statistics, blacks (42.8 percent), whites (34 percent) and Hispanics (21 percent) make up the largest portion of those infected with HIV. Eighty percent of transmission occurred through male-to-male sexual intercourse and injection drug use. Male-to-male sexual intercourse was responsible for 61 percent of the cases, while injection drug use accounted for 19 percent of the cases.