© Estate of Keith Haring

FACTS ABOUT AIDS AIDS is the second leading cause of death for people between age 25 and 44, but remains the leading cause of death for African-American women in the same age category. (CDC) The incidence of AIDS among heterosexuals continues to rise, increasing 11 percent among men and 7 percent among women, with a 13 percent increase among Hispanic men and a 12 percent increase among African-American women.(CDC) Every 20 seconds a woman becomes infected with HIV. (CDC) Half of all new HIV infections occur in people under 25. (American Association for World Health) One in 250 Americans are infected with HIV, including one in every 100 men. (CDC) Every 16 minutes someone dies of AIDS. (International AIDS Conference) At least one teenager is becoming infected with HIV every hour of every day. (CDC) In the last 24 hours, while 3,000 new women in the world became infected with HIV, 500 other women died of AIDS. (International AIDS Conference) Rural populations have the highest rates of increase in AIDS cases, with heterosexual contact accounting for most cases in many areas. (American Association for World Health) AIDS cases have dropped among gay men but are climbing among heterosexual men and women. (CDC) Women now make up 26% of the AIDS cases in the United States. Female AIDS cases jumped 63% from 1991 to 1995, affecting mostly poor, minority women. (CDC) Older women are contracting HIV more frequently than before, mostly through heterosexual contact. (CDC) Only an estimated 150,000 - out of close to 1 million - HIV+ individuals in the U.S. are using the latest drug combination therapy. That's less that 15%. (OUT EXTA '98) Many infected teenagers had no idea their partner had HIV. (OUT EXTRA '98) 10,000 infants now live with HIV and HIV-related illness is the leading cause of pediatric death in some U.S. cities. (National Center for Health Statistics) There is an increase in unsafe sex practices for men and women, gay and straight, which could lead to HIV infection. (CDC)