CDC: 1 in 22 blacks will contract HIV

ATLANTA - Health officials estimate that 1 in 22 black Americans will be diagnosed with the AIDS virus in their lifetime, more than twice the risk for Hispanics and eight times that of whites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the numbers yesterday. The report says the lifetime risk is 1 in 52 for Hispanics, and 1 in 170 for whites. Asian-Americans had the lowest lifetime risk, at about 1 in 222.

The data are not considered surprising. Earlier research has shown blacks, especially, have a high risk of HIV infection.

The estimates are based on 2007 death certificates, population figures and HIV surveillance data from 37 states and Puerto Rico. They update similar calculations reported two years ago. - AP