On World AIDS Day, the city announced a 40% decline in known cases since 2003
New York City’s HIV diagnoses have hit a historic low, a new report revealed on Monday, World AIDS Day.
The New York City Health Department report shows that 2,832 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2013 (the most recent data available), which represents an all-time low and a more than 40% decline in known cases since 2003. New AIDS cases also dropped to 1,784 in 2013 from 5,422 in 2003.
Still, more than three quarters of the city’s new diagnoses were among blacks and Hispanics, and men who have sex with men also represent a disproportionate number of new cases. “But, 2,800 individuals newly infected with HIV are still too many people. We must strive harder to reach communities of color, which bear the highest burden of HIV,” NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said in a statement.
New York City, one of the most populous urban areas in the world, was one of the hardest hit at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. During a World AIDS Day event, the Health Department recognized local organizations and individuals for their outstanding contributions in the city’s fight against the disease.
Other cities, like San Francisco, have made even greater strides in cutting their new diagnoses. As TIME recently reported, San Francisco is trying to get down to zero new diagnoses. The California city, which was also an epicenter for the AIDS epidemic, had only 359 new HIV diagnoses in 2013. Not only that, but 94% of HIV-positive people in San Francisco are aware of their status.
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