District Of Columbia

The first statistics to be collected on HIV in the District of Columbia reveal "a modern epidemic" remarkable for its size, complexity and reach into all parts of the city.

The numbers most starkly illustrate HIV's impact on the African American community. More than 80 percent of the 3,269 HIV cases identified between 2001 and 2006 were among black men, women and adolescents. Among women who tested positive, a rising percentage of local cases, nine of 10 were African American.

The 120-page report shows how a condition once considered a gay disease has moved into the general population.

It blows the stereotype out of the water," said Shannon Hader, who became head of the District's HIV/AIDS Administration in October. Increases by sex, age and ward over the past six years underscore her blunt conclusion that "HIV is everybody's disease here.

Not exactly. A conclusion more "blindered" or politically correct than "blunt".

More than 80% of the cases were "among black men", and among the women, "nine out of ten were African American".

While it's obvious that HIV/AIDS is a major health problem everywhere, in the district of Columbia - according to the above numbers - it seems to be epidemic only in the black population.

That supports a report I recently read that claimed that one had an 800% better chance of getting HIV/AIDS when having sex with a black than any other ethnic group.

Now that's blunt, but apparently true.