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American Morning

Paging Dr. Gupta: World AIDS Day

Aired December 01, 2003 - 08:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So why is the HIV infection rate rising so quickly in the U.S.?
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center with more.

Dr. Gupta, good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.

In some ways, it has to do with complacency. People talk about the United States being a victim of its own success. People are living with AIDS much longer than they used to be, thinking of AIDS now as a chronic disease, rather than a death sentence, which it was just two decades ago. Take a look at some of the numbers. If you look at the minorities, the numbers are really startling in terms of where the numbers are increasing the most; 55 percent, a disproportionate number among African-Americans, 26 percent among Latinos. African-American women being among the hardest-hit within those African-Americans.

Now within the United States, as well, if you take a look at the trends now around the country, there are all sorts of different numbers around the country. In fact, the hardest place hit is D.C., 162.4 per 100,000, Connecticut 17.9. We have a list, we'll try and get that to you. South Carolina, one of the lower states, 20.3 per 100,000.

This is World AIDS Day, Anderson, so it's important to point out, as well, what the numbers look like around the world. Despite the fact that the medications have gotten much better, despite the fact that people are living longer with the disease, still there are 5 million new AIDS cases around the world. There are 3 million total deaths. Now currently about 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world.

So, Anderson, really probably in the United States the problem has most to do with complacency. The drugs are good drugs, people are looking healthy, they are working, but they're also starting to engage in higher risk behavior once again. This is a new, disturbing trend that people are really focused on -- Anderson.

COOPER: Sanjay, you look at some of those numbers, 55 percent among African-Americans. Why are black women in particular so at risk?

GUPTA: You know, it's really interesting. This is something that's been studied quite a bit. What seems to be happening is a combination of things. First and foremost, the stigma of HIV in the black community, especially among young, black gay men. What happens typically is that often oftentimes it's such a stigmatized disease, that these gay men who are having higher HIV rates are actually getting married and subsequently transmitting the virus to their wives, and that is where the largest jump in African-American women is coming from. Sort of interesting, that surprised me, but we certainly talked to a lot of aids experts about this, and that appears to be why the African-American women are seeming to have higher rates, especially over the last several years -- Anderson.

COOPER: It's so odd, you know, there is so much information out there, and yet these rates are rising. You talk a little bit about the perception that AIDS is a sort of manageable disease. Does that really contribute, do you think?

GUPTA: I think that, you know, the drugs have become very good. And these AIDS cocktails, most people know about these now pretty well. They're very good drugs. They will make you sick, they'll make you nauseated, you'll get diarrhea, things like that, but they'll also, for the most part, people who take these drugs, people who do get treatment, are living much longer lives, maybe even normal lifespans compared to before. So people think, you know what, I'll just take the medications, and I think that does contribute quite a bit to the resurgence in numbers.

COOPER: And you see those ads in which everyone sort of looks healthy and is leading an active life. I guess it sort of gives an impression that it's not so bad to have it after all.

GUPTA: Sometimes that can work against the situation.

COOPER: That's right. All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 1, 2003 - 08:46   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So why is the HIV infection rate rising so quickly in the U.S.?
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center with more.

Dr. Gupta, good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.

In some ways, it has to do with complacency. People talk about the United States being a victim of its own success. People are living with AIDS much longer than they used to be, thinking of AIDS now as a chronic disease, rather than a death sentence, which it was just two decades ago. Take a look at some of the numbers. If you look at the minorities, the numbers are really startling in terms of where the numbers are increasing the most; 55 percent, a disproportionate number among African-Americans, 26 percent among Latinos. African-American women being among the hardest-hit within those African-Americans.

Now within the United States, as well, if you take a look at the trends now around the country, there are all sorts of different numbers around the country. In fact, the hardest place hit is D.C., 162.4 per 100,000, Connecticut 17.9. We have a list, we'll try and get that to you. South Carolina, one of the lower states, 20.3 per 100,000.

This is World AIDS Day, Anderson, so it's important to point out, as well, what the numbers look like around the world. Despite the fact that the medications have gotten much better, despite the fact that people are living longer with the disease, still there are 5 million new AIDS cases around the world. There are 3 million total deaths. Now currently about 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world.

So, Anderson, really probably in the United States the problem has most to do with complacency. The drugs are good drugs, people are looking healthy, they are working, but they're also starting to engage in higher risk behavior once again. This is a new, disturbing trend that people are really focused on -- Anderson.

COOPER: Sanjay, you look at some of those numbers, 55 percent among African-Americans. Why are black women in particular so at risk?

GUPTA: You know, it's really interesting. This is something that's been studied quite a bit. What seems to be happening is a combination of things. First and foremost, the stigma of HIV in the black community, especially among young, black gay men. What happens typically is that often oftentimes it's such a stigmatized disease, that these gay men who are having higher HIV rates are actually getting married and subsequently transmitting the virus to their wives, and that is where the largest jump in African-American women is coming from. Sort of interesting, that surprised me, but we certainly talked to a lot of aids experts about this, and that appears to be why the African-American women are seeming to have higher rates, especially over the last several years -- Anderson.

COOPER: It's so odd, you know, there is so much information out there, and yet these rates are rising. You talk a little bit about the perception that AIDS is a sort of manageable disease. Does that really contribute, do you think?

GUPTA: I think that, you know, the drugs have become very good. And these AIDS cocktails, most people know about these now pretty well. They're very good drugs. They will make you sick, they'll make you nauseated, you'll get diarrhea, things like that, but they'll also, for the most part, people who take these drugs, people who do get treatment, are living much longer lives, maybe even normal lifespans compared to before. So people think, you know what, I'll just take the medications, and I think that does contribute quite a bit to the resurgence in numbers.

COOPER: And you see those ads in which everyone sort of looks healthy and is leading an active life. I guess it sort of gives an impression that it's not so bad to have it after all.

GUPTA: Sometimes that can work against the situation.

COOPER: That's right. All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com