Many gay men in Chicago who have HIV don't know it, CDC says - Study says more than half unaware they could be spreading the virus

Many gay men in Chicago who have HIV don't know it, CDC says - Study says more than half unaware they could be spreading the virus
By Dahleen Glanton
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
6:08 p.m. CDT, September 23, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-hiv-chicago-0924-20100923,0,3779059.story



More than half of the sexually active gay and bisexual men in Chicago who have HIV don't realize they are infected, creating a substantial risk of spreading the virus, according to a study released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Chicago, 18 percent of men who have sex with men are infected with HIV, on par with the national average of 19 percent, the study conducted in 21 large U.S. cities found. But in Chicago, 53 percent of those men are unaware that they are infected, higher than the national rate of 44 percent.

According to the CDC, the men may be unaware of their status for several reasons, including never having been tested, having been infected recently, underestimating their personal risk or believing that advances in HIV treatment minimize the threat of HIV.

The new findings, published ahead of Monday's National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, found all races and ethnicities of gay and bisexual men were severely affected, but black gay and bisexual men were particularly impacted, with 28 percent infected and 60 percent unaware of it. Eighteen percent of Hispanic gay and bisexual men are infected, with 46 percent unaware, and 16 percent of white men have HIV, with 26 percent unaware, according to the study.

Though the results are similar to those in a study conducted in five cities in 2004-05, officials said the latest research is the largest of its kind. It involved more than 8,000 men, including more than 500 in Chicago.

According to the CDC, the data show the urgent need to increase HIV testing and access to prevention services for gay men of all races and ethnic groups.

dglanton@tribune.com