New AIDS Cases Down in Polk County, Florida, in 2001

Polk County, Fla., had 78 new AIDS cases reported in 2001, the third decrease in a row, and within three cases of the low of 75 cases in 1992. But newly reported HIV cases increased for the second year in a row, going from 98 cases in 2000 to 113 cases in 2001.

Statewide, the Florida Department of Health reported more new cases of HIV and AIDS in 2001, ending a seven-year decline in AIDS cases. Spencer Lieb, a department epidemiologist, said it is too soon to know the significance of the increase in AIDS cases. "We will be monitoring [reported cases] over the next year to see if this is a blip or if it reflects some trend," Lieb said.

Florida has been recording numbers of HIV patients since mid-1997. Two trends have been consistent in recent years: Women represent a growing number of people infected with HIV, and blacks are being affected at a greater rate than their percentage of the population would predict. Women accounted for 29 percent of new AIDS cases and 36 percent of new HIV cases in Florida in 2001. In Polk County, the figures are 29 percent and 49 percent.

Blacks accounted for about 15 percent of Florida's population, but 53 percent of AIDS cases reported in 2001. Whites made up 31 percent of cases, and Hispanics accounted for 16 percent. In Polk County, blacks were 55 percent of new AIDS cases and 59 percent of new HIV cases in 2001. More black women than black men were reported HIV-positive in Polk in 2001. Statewide, black women were 39 percent of new AIDS cases among blacks and 47 percent of new HIV cases among blacks in 2001. Among whites, women were 16 percent of new AIDS cases and 21 percent of new HIV cases. Among Hispanics, women were 20 percent of new AIDS cases and 24 percent of new HIV cases.

Back to other CDC news for May 23, 2002

Previous Updates