The CDC says most new HIV infections in 2016 were transmitted by HIV patients who weren't receiving treatment.
According to new data released Monday, 38 percent of new HIV infections in 2016 were transmitted by people who didn't know they had the virus. Forty-three percent of new infections came from the 23 percent of HIV patients who knew they had the virus but weren't receiving treatment. Another 20 percent of new infections were spread by people who were receiving HIV treatment but didn't take their medication as prescribed.
The agency says it's trying to cut new HIV infections in the U.S. by at least 90 percent in the next decade. A large part of that plan involves increasing access to HIV medication, which can cost thousands of dollars a month for some uninsured patients.
There's no cure for HIV, but the CDC stresses patients who take medication to reduce the amount of virus in their body "have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV." A little more than half of people with HIV are receiving treatment and are virally suppressed or undetectable, and they weren't responsible for any reported new infections in 2016.
The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once, but says "sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing." Using condoms and antiretroviral medication can also protect people who are at risk.
Additional reporting from Reuters.
