A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that an estimated 56,300 new HIV invections occurred in the United States in 2006, substantially higher than the previous estimate of 40,000 annual new infections.

According to CDC analysis, the 40% increase does not represent an actual increase in the number of HIV infections, but instead are due to improvements in testing methods and methodology. A separate CDC analysis suggests that the number of new infections has been relatively stable since the late 1990s.

The new estimates also suggest that certain segments of the population are most affected by HIV. Gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities account for 53% of new HIV infections, and infection rates among this group have been steadily increasing since the early 1990's. African American men and women, while comprising only 13% of the U.S. population, account for 45% of all the new HIV infections in 2006, higher than any other racial or ethnic group.

Visit the CDC Website for more information and resources