Well, This Basically Sucks

BY CHRISTINA BOYLE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, May 18th 2008

HIV infection among New York City teens has risen to its highest level since 2001, a new data analysis shows.

The number of young people ages 13 to 19 infected with the AIDS virus rose 29% between 2004 and 2006, despite efforts to curb the spread.

The number of teenagers contracting HIV dropped after 2001 but has increased steadily since 2004. The increase among teens has outpaced the increase in HIV infection among gay men.

In 2004, there were 130 new infections among teens. That jumped to 168 new cases two years later.

The figures were culled from city Department of Health data by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn-Queens), who has proposed a four-step approach to tackling the problem, including more funding for sex education and linking HIV-prevention and substance-abuse programs.

"There is a false notion that HIV has now been managed and controlled," Weiner said Saturday. "We need to stop treating this like yesterday's problem, and like a challenge we need to face today."

Weiner also warned of the possible link between methamphetamine use and behavior leading to HIV infections among gay men.