Study: 600,000
Americans Have HIV

Fewer than 1% of U.S. adults age 18-49 living in homes have contracted HIV, according to a national study released Tuesday.

The National Center for Health Statistics's evaluation of HIV patients in the country shows that 600,000 people in this group -- which excludes those who are homeless, prisoners, or patients in institutions -- have the virus.

Men were more likely to be infected than women (0.7% versus 0.2%). Also, those who were infected with genital herpes were 15 times more likely to also have HIV, according to Reuters. Also, black men age 40-49 had the highest rate of infection at nearly 4%.

While the report does not quantify new infections, AIDS activist groups say the new data will show the number of Americans contracting HIV each year to be 50% higher than previously estimated.

The sample of almost 12,000 people has been culled from federal examinations between 1999 and 2006. The numbers can be extrapolated to reflect the national population. (The Advocate)