i believe that this is an accurate portrayal in the statistics in the united states. everyone goes around doing things they shouldnt and believe they wont get anything and nothing bad will happen. No one wakes up until they get sick...why wait so long.

I do feel that this is an accurate portrayal of statistics in the US. I feel this way because the organizations that help to gather the data have most likely gathered it in a way that would allow them to conclude accurate statistics. Although they have not accounted for every single infected individual, they have been able to get as close as possible to the actual number with the help of each state keeping records of those who are infected. These organizations have also conversed with researchers that have formed new methods of uncovering when a person was infected and how. This leads me to believe that their accuracy is pretty much on point. I do not believe that there is a certain way to permenantly stop this disease, but I believe that people can help in the prevention process. People should have safe sex and get tested if they feel they were at risk immediately after it happens. People can also help with the prevention by helping to fund organizations that perform the research that could very well help decrease the number of those infected. Many of my classmates have seemed to have had the same thoughts as me, therefore I do agree with what they say.

I feel it is an accurate portrayal of statistics in the US. It is a shame how the HIV virus keeps going up. Theres really no way to really fix it. People just have to be more responsible and people with the virus have to be honest with people and tell them that they have the HIV virus. One think you can do which I think they already do is make it a crime and charge the person with attempted murder. wu94 hit it right on the spot, everyone should be tested. If you dont get tested they should charge a fine. Also if you do have it, it should be marked on your drivers license or something like that.

I believe that the numbers represented are accurate portrayals of statistics. Seeing that the article is from more than a year ago, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the number has still steadily increased in some aspects. AIDS is a disease that scientists still do not understand completely, so I am glad that the numbers are still below 100,000. I strongly believe that knowledge is power and that informing upcoming generations about the disease would be very helpful in stopping the progress of the disease. However, I personally am not a fan of the fear tactics used in commercials saying "1 in 4 people don't know they have it." I think it's important to stress to people that they should get tested, but placing fear in citizens that they can always have it without knowing isn't comforting. However, I do agree with my fellow classmates that everyone should get tested, whether they have had sexual experiences or not. There are just too many other ways to receive HIV to only get tested after sexual relations.

After reading this article, i do think the statistics are accurate but some of them are uneccasary. For example, there was no need to add in this article that "The data really confirm that the most severe impact of the epidemic continues to be among gay and bisexual men of all races and among black men and women," Fenton says. Blacks account for 45 percent of new HIV infections. Their infection rate is seven times that of whites. Infections among Hispanics are three times higher." Knox had previously got the message across that U.S HIV rate is higher than estimated without sounding racist or against homosexuals. Also i agree with wu18 that in ordre to stop it, everyone should get tested because thats a huge step forward in not spreading the disease and once it is more contained, we can do more research on it.

i think this article is realistic. AIDS has increased yet we have been able to extend the lives of who is infected. We should be researching and spending more money on how to decrease the rate of victims being infected. I dont get why people dont take precaution during sex especially if it commonly runs through gays and bisexuals, you would think they would take the most caution. I do agree with my classmates in which getting tested is the easiest way to see if you have HIV, so i dont know why anyone wouldnt. HIV is a serious matter but people obviously dont think it is if they keep having unprotected sex as the numbers increase.

I believe this is an accurate portrayal of the AIDS situation in the United States. Its definately a problem and with no cure, it will continue to be a problem until people learn to be responsible. I dont see people being responsible. As the population increases, the rate of AIDS infections will grow exponentially. We can stop it with a cure and responsibility. I agree with my classmates. There is no way to fix it right now. The point is, that the amount of people infected is larger than expected. We do not have a cure and something needs to be done, anything.

I think that the statistics are accurate. AIDS and HIV awareness is on the downfall. After the initial epidemic and scare, people seemed to forget about AIDS unless they were forced to learn about it. I think that children need to be educated more on what AIDS is and how it can end a life. If, at a younger age, children were instilled with this information, it would result in a broader understanding of what it really is.

I believe this is an accurate portrayal of statistics in the United States. AIDS continues to spread among many people and it won't come to an end until people begin to be more responsible and protective. The only possible way to stop it is it become responsible with our actions and make the proper choices in order to protect ourselves and others. I do agree with many of my classmates in that there is no 100% way to stop the spread of AIDS.

This is definitely an accurate portrayal. I think the ONLY possible way to stop AIDS is to continue working hard and banding together as we have been , and try to spread knowledge and information. There is no way to completely stop the spread of AIDS, but i hope that one day it can be cured. Pneumonia was a fatal illness once, now look at how far we have come medically, that it is almost rarely fatal. Who knows, maybe one day it will be the same with AIDS.

i do not feel that is an accurate estimation of the statistics in the us. im sure there are many people who do not know they even have aids. so therefore the government does not know of everyone with the hiv virus

I do feel that this is an accurate portrayal. The only way we can stop this is to keep informing people. Teens are having sex at a younger age to a point where it's disturbs me. These "kids" don't know what they're getting themselves into because most of them don't think about what they're doing and they especially dont think about the consequences. Informing them may not stop them all from having sex but they'll be safer and think before having sex. The schools should provide a class when teens are younger to inform them and help them make the right decisions about sex and warn them about the consequences about having sex without a condom or just knowing that you dont have to be pressured. The government should fund this to because at the end of the day some people dont care that they have aids or HIV and they still go around spreading it.

These statistics are an inaccurate portrayal in the United States because I'm sure there are a majority of infected people who have not been tested, because they do not believe they may be carrying the disease. As a result, they are not put on the list of infected people, and are therefore not included in the total number of cases recorded each year. If more people were to be tested every couple of months, or at least once a year, then more accurate numbers would result, which would cause the public to become more aware of this disease. I agree with wu19, who stated that medicine has come a long way in the past decades. Pneumonia used to be a fatal illness at one point, but now there are cures for that disease, because people became informed, and scientists worked long hours to solve that medical mystery. Knowledge of AIDS and the ways of transmission must be taught to everyone. Not only in our country, but the entire world. We, as a society of humans, must work together in order to destroy a disease that endangers our lives.

I don't think this could be an accurate portrayl of the AIDS virus' numbers, for every person who has been tested there are others out there who have not been tested and who do not believe that they would have reason to be tested. Yes it has gotten better now that there is more oppourtunity for people to be educated but we still have a long way to go, not only in America but throughout the world. Untill the virus is eradicated completely there is little hope of getting these numbers lower.

i think if some one is going to have sex with some one that you like or love you and partner should get tested for HIV. 16,000 is a lot of people infected a year. i believe that the tests aren't as accurate as there suppose to be. and if you do have aids it is hard for the doctor to tell you that you have it. i think everybody should get tested.

I agree with wu11. The US doesn't know the exact number of people who are infected with HIV. The number of 16,000 people getting infected every year is just a rough sketch. I do agree with wu101, becasue the tests are not accurate. You can't be sure if you have HIV on the first test, you have to consintently go bck to the doctor and check to see if anything has changed yet. So yes, i do believe that everyone should be tested for HIV, it doesn't hurt to try, and you could be saving someone else from getting it once you know.

I dont think this is an accurate portayal of the number of people with AIDS. The US does not have an exact number of people who have AIDS. Also there are a lot of people that dont know they have it. I agree with my classmates that everyone should be required to get tested. Also, the age that kids begin having sex is getting younger and younger. They need to be educated of this virus and what they should do to prevent them from getting it.

I think that this artical is only particially corect. That statement is bassed of the fact that sometimes HIV can lay dormant for years leading to the test coming up negative. Which leads to the spread of this disease. I do think that everyone who is sexually active should get tested, wheter the test come up postive or negative it is still important for people to get tested. As far as trying to stop this epidemic isn't exactly possible. All we can do is tell pople to use protection or stay abstinent, the rest is up to them. Whether they belive they should practice safe sex or not have sex at all.

I agree that these stats are accurate. I also think that the numbers will increase. with the age of sexually active ppl becoming younger it is only likely that the number will rise. Thats why sex ed should be instituted at a much lower grade level in order to increase awareness.I think most of my classmates are on the same page as me. They know what needs to be done and what isnt working.

I agree with everyone who partially believes what the article is saying. statistics can always be manipulated, and the manipulation is not always true. Whether the rate of infection is rising or not, it is extremely important to simply be aware, and to be cautious. There is a very easy way to solve this problem: trust your partners, trust what they tell you, and if they are HIV positive, dont have sexual relations with them. Anyone who is totally convinced that the statistics presented are totally accurate, i would advise you to re-evaluate your position.

I agree these statistics are accurate to a point. People that have HIV or AIDS might have never been tested and have no idea they are a carrier of the disease. It surprised me that the number of people who die or even carry the disease goes down how much it does per year. I think that the number of people being educated about the disease are increasing which is cauing the number of carriers to decrease. The only thing that scares me is that people every year have sex at a much younger age, which now puts them at risk.

I think these statistics are the best we can really get there is no sure way of knowing just how many people are infected due to privacy laws and just the fact that some people don't get tested but any stat we can get is better than nothing. I also don't think there is any way to stop the epidemic unless one day we find a medical cure there are just too many people who don't know and some selfish people who don't care if they pass it on which is a terrible thing but an undeniable fact. Hopefuly one day well find a cure for this terribly deadly disease but until then let's just hope everyone uses there heads and stays safe.

Although these statistics seem a little crazy i can honestly believe they are true. The best way, in my opinion, to stop the spread of HIV or any other STD's would be to take responsibility and get tested. Sex ed should be taken more seriously and should be taught at a lower age. The amount of younger people being exposed to sex without any education or awareness is unacceptable. All of my other classmates have great opinions and i would gladly defend their opinions.

I think these statistics are really quite amazing becasue you would think that with knowledge, awareness, and visual examples of hows AID's effects the percentage of new cases would decrease. This is unfortunate because there has been so much money, time, and research put into this epidemic and the percentages of some things such as new cases with aids involving needles has gone down but the rest has either stayed the same or increased. Besides a cure, I dont think that there is another solution to supress the spreading of the AIDS virus's or remove it from the population.

even though the statistic seem to far fetch i do believe they are true. In my opinion to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS is to ask questions about the person you are about to have intercourse with and to get tested. i agree with my class mates.

I think these statistics are quite accurate, while they are not one hundred percent because not everyone who has the virus gets tested, they are accurate with the knowledge we have. I beleive that the only way to stop the spread of HIV is to find a cure, there are way to many people in the US now with the disease to stop it any other way, I agree with my classmates.

i was very surprised about how many people were effected by this disease every year. and that number keeps growing. they need more than the statistics they have to come up with a well rounded number. these statistics could be changed and modified. this number is just going to keep rising and rising if more people dont learn about the disease. and if they dont get them selves checked. they will never know that they have this virus and could give it to many people

I think that these stats are an accurate portrayal of AIDS in the U.S. because they do show that, even though AIDS cases are growing, the number is said to be stable. This is positive because people are actually listening to advice given about safer sex and are more aware of how HIV can be transmitted through infected blood. I think that AIDS will be a tough disease to completely terminate, but as long as people continue to gain knowledge about the disease and how it is spread, then the new AIDS cases will begin to decrease each year. I agree with many of the answers above by my peers.

These statistics are a bit scary, to think that many people get infected. I honestly believe there is not a way to stop this desease but there are ways to prevent it and reduce the number people getting infected. For one the needle use between heroin or any other drug addicts has to be looked after people, by giving them clean needles and such. Also if you are INFECTED and you know it... BE CAREFULL of your actions, don't infect others; simple as that. But the most important thing to do is fund the organizations trying to help the people with the desease and trying to find a cure or at least new ways to repress it and to also make an awareness of ways ways to prevent it. I think the reason funding has gone down for AIDS is the whole MASS HYSTERIA it caused when people realized what the desease really was and the ways it was spread among people, after time i guess people stoped putting so much attention because it was not the population's biggest concern anymore. I don't really agree with my classmates because most of them say it is because of people having sex at a younger age, it really doesn't matter what age it is, what matters are the precations taken for the spread and the funding the AIDS/HIV organizations get.

I also agree that statistics can be easily manipulated and they can be inaccurate. However, I am not surprised if these statistics were indeed correct. AIDS is a disease that can be spread unintentionally if the infector does not know if he/she has it. Unless a medical breakthrough is successfully found for the cure of AIDS, I don't think there will be an end to this disease.

I think its safe to say these statistics are correct. With new drugs and peer pressure nowadays many people are unprotected and open to accuiring any disease. Teens especialy have alot to worry about, many are sexually active and not safe about it. It is very easy to accuire a disease today. I think people if sexually active or drug users should get tested. I agree with my classmates that its safe to get tested so if you do get thre disease yoiu can get treated and we can help stop this pandemic.

People need to realize that AIDS and HIV are out there and that they need to know right from wrong. People just seem to do whatever they want at a monent, but they need to wake up and stop. HIV will never stop spreading if poeple continue to just have sex whenever and with whoever. Be smart about your actions! Also if you happened to make a mistake get tested! Will it hurt you to? No, all it can do is help! People need to see this and protect themselves because no one else is going to hold your hand and do it for you.

i think every one should get tested and i think they should try and get an accruite count on how many people have hiv or aids. it is a very serious thing exspecialy when there is no cure for hiv or aids. people should try to be more responsible and get tested but i really dont see that happening any time soon.

I don't know if this is an accurate portrayal of statistics in the US. I feel as though people may not get tested because they are afraid of the results, and then they will possibly infect other people. While the numbers may be more accurate then they were twenty years ago, the negative connotation that comes with AIDS and HIV may discourage some from getting the test. To change that, we need to educate more people about the reality of HIV and AIDS. Since most teens and young adults aren't understand AIDS somewhat, we should focus on adults and older adults. I definatly agree with my classmates in that everyone should get tested, regardless of sexual activity.

I believe that these statistics are valid. People live year after year without ever knowing that they contracted the HIV virus. People need to get regularly tested, so in worst case scenario, they could begin treatment immediately and help stop the spread of the virus. I agree with wu67 that they seemed to focus on different races, yet that statistic is probably an exaggeration. Where did they take this statistic from? A group of 10, 50, 100, 100,000, or 1,000,000. Rural setting or urban? All of these have a factor at the percentages they are giving us.

i believe that if someone is infected with this sickness, they should be open to any person that they are having a relationship with so they no what they are getting themselves in to. its a messed up thing to have but if you do have it, you shouldnt bring people down with you.

I agree with these statistics, and i think that people can stop spreading this disease by using protection and by being honest with one another. I agree with my classmates and i believe that this disease can be slowed if people were more responsible for their sickness

having unpretected sex because disease is easily transmited through that. having a disease, means you should be willing to share and make sure your partner know that you have it AIDS is a very scaring disease and is life changing to anyone. people should try helping other get through it and make them feel just like a normal human should feel.

I think this is an accurate portrayal of AIDS statistics. It seems to be a much more modern and greatly improved system then the old one, and it seems that many cases of the virus are coming up and being dealt with. In order to help, I believe that those who have the virus have to tell their partners that they had or currently have, and those people have to get tested.

Thank you everyone for sharing. From this point on, no credit will be given to posts.