Thirty years ago this June 5, an article reporting the first known cases of what we now call AIDS was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

We have come a long way from the earlier days of this epidemic when HIV and AIDS were synonymous with a certain death. With the advent of anti-retrovirals, so many more people are able to live long, productive, relatively healthy lives with this disease.

In the face of this progress, still too many people continue to get infected in the US. Approximately 50,000 new infections occur each year, and more than 1.1 million people are living with HIV 1 in 5 aren’t aware of their status.

Blacks represent approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population, but account for almost half of people living with HIV in the U.S. (46 percent), and nearly half of new infections each year (45 percent)

Hispanics represent approximately 16 percent of the population and account for an estimated 18 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S., and 17 percent of new infections each year.

African-American young people are also severely affected by HIV: African-American youth account for more than half (55%) of all HIV infections reported among persons aged 13-29

To find a testing site newest you:

www.RAPONAIDS.com