HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is an infectious agent that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease that leaves a person vulnerable to life-threatening infections. HIV transmission occurs when a person is exposed to body fluids infected with the virus, such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.

• About 850,000-950,000 United States residents are living with HIV infection, one quarter of whom are unaware of their infection
• Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the United States, and approximately 5 million new HIV cases occur each year worldwide (about 70% among men and 30% among women--half are younger than 25 years of age).
• Of new infections among men in the United States, Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 60% of men were infected through homosexual sex, 25% through injection drug use, and 15% through heterosexual sex (approximately 50% are African Americans, 30% are white, 20% are Hispanic, and a small percentage are of other racial or ethnic groups).
• Of new infections among women in the United States, CDC estimates that approximately 75% of women were infected through heterosexual sex and 25% through injection drug use (approximately 64% are African Americans, 18% white, 18% Hispanic, and a small percentage are of other racial or ethnic groups).
• About one-third of babies born to HIV-positive mothers will develop AIDS by 18 months of age.

• HIV infection is the fifth leading cause of death for people who are 25-44 years old in the United States .
• AIDS is the leading cause of death among African American and Hispanic women ages 25-44 in the US .
• During 2003, AIDS caused the deaths of an estimated 3 million people , including 2.5 million adults and 500,000 children under 15.
• Women are 33% more likely to die than men because treatment begins so much later, if at all.
• AIDS is the ninth leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old and it is likely to increase to one of the top five causes.

• HIV was the number one cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 25-44 in 2000, compared to the fifth leading cause of death for whites and the fourth for Hispanics in this same age group.
• As of the end of 2001, there were 151,430 African Americans estimated to be living with AIDS, or 42% of the total.
• African Americans account for more than half (54%) of the 400,000 new HIV infections estimated to occur in the United States each year.
• Approximately 78% of HIV-infected women are minorities and most become infected through heterosexual transmission.
• HIV is the leading cause of death for African American men ages 35-44.
• Among children, African-American and Hispanic children represent more than 80% of pediatric AIDS cases
• African American teens (ages 13-19) account for almost two-thirds (61%) of new AIDS cases reported among teens.
• AIDS case rates per 100,000 among African Americans are highest in the eastern part of the United States , particularly in the northeast.
• Estimated AIDS prevalence among African Americans is clustered in a handful of states with ten accounting for 73% of African Americans estimated to be living with AIDS.
• Ten metropolitan areas account for nearly half (48%) of African Americans estimated to be living with AIDS.