<P> Washington, DC has a particularly high incidence of HIV / AIDS, with 177 new cases annually per 100,000 people as of 2012, more than nine times higher than any state . </P> <P> In the United States, men who have sex with men (MSM), described as gay and bisexual, make up about 55% of the total HIV - positive population, and 67% of new HIV cases and 83% of the estimated new HIV diagnoses among all males aged 13 and older, and an estimated 92% of new HIV diagnoses among all men in their age group (2014 report). 1 in 6 gay and bisexual men are therefore expected to be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime if current rates continue . Gay and bisexual men accounted for an estimated 54% of people diagnosed with AIDS, with 39% being African American, 32% being white, and 24% being Hispanic / Latino . The CDC estimates that more than 600,000 gay and bisexual men are currently living with HIV in the United States . A review of four studies in which trans women in the United States were tested for HIV found that 27.7% tested positive . </P> <P> In a 2008 study, the Center for Disease Control found that, of the study participants who were men who had sex with men ("MSM"), almost one in five (19%) had HIV and "among those who were infected, nearly half (44 percent) were unaware of their HIV status ." The research found that white MSM "represent a greater number of new HIV infections than any other population, followed closely by black MSM--who are one of the most disproportionately affected subgroups in the U.S." and that most new infections among white MSM occurred among those aged 30--39 followed closely by those aged 40--49, while most new infections among black MSM have occurred among young black MSM (aged 13--29). </P> <P> In 2015, a major HIV outbreak, Indiana's largest - ever, occurred in two largely rural, economically depressed and poor counties in the southern portion of the state, due to the injection of a relatively new opioid - type drug called Opana (oxymorphone), which is designed be taken in pill form but is ground up and injected intravenously using needles . Because of the lack of HIV cases in that area beforehand and the youth of many but not all of those affected, the relative unavailability in the local area of safe needle exchange programs and of treatment centers capable of dealing with long - term health needs, HIV care, and drug addiction during the initial phases of the outbreak, it was not initially adequately contained and dealt with until those were set up by the government, and acute awareness of the issue spread . Such centers have now been opened, and short - term care is beginning to be provided; once the scope of the outbreak became clear, Governor Mike Pence, despite some initial reservations, approved a legislative measure to allow safe, clean needle exchange programs and treatment for those affected, which could end up being instituted statewide . </P>

History of hiv and aids in the usa