The District’s HIV/AIDS rate remains at epidemic levels and the highest in the country, despite gains in early diagnosis and treatment, D.C. health officials said Wednesday.
The rate was 3.2 percent for D.C. residents in 2009, according to the most recent data available.
More than 75 percent of residents entered into care and treatment within three months of HIV diagnosis, a steady increase of 58 percent from 2005, the city reported.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray, upon taking office in January, formed a commission to make recommendations on the issue and is awaiting its report.
A disproportionate number of black residents in the city have HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. However, the proportion of new AIDS cases among residents 50 and older has increased from 19 percent in 2005 to 26 percent in 2009. In addition, AIDS was diagnosed in a greater proportion of Hispanics than whites and blacks.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.