(Atlanta, GA) -- Talking openly about HIV is critical for the well-being of young African-Americans. That's the message from Dr. Kevin Fenton, head of the National Center for HIV/AIDS at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He's speaking out because this Sunday is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Fenton says the rate of HIV, the virus that can lead to the deadly AIDS disease, is staggering among African-Americans age 29 and younger. Of the estimated 25-thousand new HIV infections among African-Americans annually, nearly 40-percent of those cases impact young people. Fenton says the tragedy is HIV can be prevented with safe sexual behaviors like consistent use of condoms. With regular HIV testing, it's also treatable. Young people and their families can learn more by visiting the website ActAgainstAids.org or cdc.gov, or by calling
1-800-CDC-INFO.
Additional audio:
Dr. Kevin Fenton, head of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, talks about the alarming rate of HIV among young African-Americans.
Dr. Fenton says young African-Americans cannot be complacent about HIV.
Dr. Fenton says it's critical to get tested for HIV and get proper treatment.
