HIV infections higher than previously thought

New testing methods used to test for virus

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By NBCAugusta Producers

Story Published: Aug 2, 2008 at 9:36 PM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 11, 2008 at 12:42 PM EDT

ATLANTA (AP) - The number of Americans infected by the AIDS virus
each year is higher than the government has been estimating.
That's according to a new report by U.S. health officials.

The country had roughly 56,300 new HIV infections in 2006 _ a
dramatic increase from the 40,000 annual estimate used for the last
dozen years. Officials say the new figures are due to a better
blood test and new statistical methods. They say they're not due to
a worsening of the epidemic.

But the new numbers will likely refocus U.S. attention from the
effect of AIDS overseas to what the disease is doing closer to
home.

A spokesman for the National Alliance of State and Territorial
AIDS Directors says "This is the biggest news for public health
and HIV/AIDS that we've had in a while.''

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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