AIDS in New York State, 1998-1999 Edition

Introduction

In the last few years, there have been dramatic changes in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York State and in the nation. For the first time since the beginning of the epidemic, there has been a reduction in both the number of deaths from AIDS and in estimates of AIDS-opportunistic illnesses. In New York, we also have seen an encouraging decrease in HIV infection among women of childbearing age and in newborns. These encouraging trends have been accelerated by the introduction of protease inhibitors and combination antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of HIV infection.

The decline in AIDS cases and deaths can be attributed in part to the wide range of innovative health care and supportive services for people living with HIV, put into place in New York in recent years in a remarkable melding of state, local, federal and private funding sources, the collaboration of government and health and community providers, and the participation of affected communities. New York's HIV/AIDS care network is the most comprehensive in the nation.

AIDS in New York State provides a wide range of statistical information on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York State based largely on data collected by the New York State Department of Health. It highlights findings from epidemologic studies, surveillance and program evaluations. As such, it has served as a valuable resource for all those concerned with monitoring and addressing the epidemic. New features of this issue include:

  • supplementation of cumulative data with more recent multiple- and single-year figures to allow closer tracking of the course of the epidemic;
  • expanded racial and ethnic classifications throughout the document, wherever such data were
  • a review of the first eleven months of the Comprehensive Newborn HIV Screening Program (Section 1);
  • greatly expanded sections on HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality (Sections 9- 7); and
  • a revised methodology for estimating the costs of HIV/AIDS health care in New York State.

The State Department of Health will continue to monitor the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic to provide policy makers, health care providers, community organizations and affected communities with the most accurate scientific information available to design and implement effective prevention strategies and service programs.

The complete report is available as Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files - Help for PDF files.

For more information or materials in an alternate format, please contact us at:

New York State Department of Health
Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology
Albany, NY 12237