HIV Cases Increase In Gay Latino Men, States the CDC [Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention]

A recent study has shown that HIV cases have been falling in the United States in most racial and ethnic groups. This, however does not hold true among gay, Hispanic men.

According to Fox News Latino, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that HIV diagnoses have in many groups, including gay and bisexual white men, have seen a steady decline. The report also added that the number of Latinos diagnosed with HIV, however, had increased to more than 24 percent between 2005 and 2014.

Eugene McCray, who is the director of the CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, said the increase in the number of HIV cases is something that he and his colleagues have not been able to explain.

According to recent data presented by the agency on Sunday at the National HIV Prevention Conference, there was also a similar increase for gay, black men, amounting to about 22 percent, but the number of new diagnoses has leveled off since 2010.

This may prove that recent HIV interventions launched by the government are in effect. Researchers also discovered an 87 percent increase in HIV diagnoses among young, black, and gay, Latino men between ages 13 and 24, reports The Verge.

The research also found that black women saw the largest drop in HIV diagnoses of any racial group. The number of diagnoses was cut down to almost half, from 8,000 in 2005 to just 4,600 in 2014. 

"Is it because the prevention interventions are just not getting to that group in a way that's effective?" McCray said. "We're going to be looking at that very carefully."

Government and private agencies have also been pushing to increase HIV testing and to promote safe sex and prevention in the country. A lot of credit should also go to the improvements in medical care.

"We are now equipped with major prevention and treatment advances -- so we know what works," McCray added. "Our challenge today is to make sure that everyone is benefitting." 

Some of the common symptoms of HIV include: fever, severe fatigue, a non-itchy rash, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, as well as mouth sores. The use of condoms is always advised, especially when dealing with multiple partners. Being oriented with their partner's sexual history will help as well.  It is advised to also not engage in sexual activities with multiple partners and to choose less risky sexual behaviors.