HIV Rate Soars 12% Among Young Gay Men

HIV infection rates are rising by 12% annually among young gay men aged 13 to 24—and even more among young black men, the Washington Post reports. That's 10 times higher than the overall gay community, possibly because younger men have “not been personally affected by AIDS in the same way that their older peers were," suggests one expert.

At 15%, the increase among gay black men reflects the greater prevalence of HIV in the black population. "That is an epidemic that is out of control," said the head of the Black AIDS Institute. The government has responded to the HIV surge by pushing a "defend yourself" campaign to encourage protected sex. (More HIV stories.)