AIDS Numbers Under Review

Amid suspicion by advocates and concerns about the issue being politicized, it is expected that the statistics for people newly infected with the AIDS virus will be significantly revised--upward.

Advocacy groups say new government estimates will show at least 35 percent
more Americans are infected with the AIDS virus each year than the government
has been reporting.

Government officials acknowledge they are revising the estimate, which they
say is not yet complete.

But advocates are pushing for the government to release the number now.
They say the delay may be partly political, and that it's hurting prevention
funding.

"Across the AIDS community, there is an incredible amount of suspicion,"
said Julie Davids, executive director of the advocacy group Community HIV/AIDS
Mobilization Project (CHAMP).

U.S. health officials have been estimating about 40,000 new HIV cases occur
in the nation each year. However, at a national HIV prevention conference in
Atlanta this week, advocates claimed the new estimate is 55,000 or
higher.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the numbers are
being reviewed for accuracy and won't be released until early next year.