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The prevalence of AIDS has been monitored since 1981, and the resulting information should help to predict the future course of this disease. However, the factors that determine infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, have changed within the past 10 years. The condition of AIDS is the clinical end stage of HIV infection and serves as an endpoint in surveillance studies, or studies that monitor AIDS epidemiology. The temporal, or time-related, trend in the incidence of AIDS reflects the history of HIV infection. This approach does not provide sufficient information about new cases of HIV infection over the past two to three years, a period of changes in the HIV epidemic. Direct measurement of the incidence of HIV infection would provide more accurate information about the HIV epidemic. However, the incidence of HIV infection can only be indicated by repeated testing for HIV antibodies, or the presence in the blood of immune proteins specifically directed against HIV. The groups that undergo routine testing for HIV antibodies include blood donors and United States military personnel. The temporal trend and demographic features of HIV seroconversion, or appearance of HIV antibodies, were assessed in United States Army personnel between November 1985 and October 1989. The results showed that 429 of 718,780 soldiers showed evidence of HIV seroconversion. The rates of seroconversion decreased between November 1985 and October 1989. The risk of HIV seroconversion was associated with race or ethnicity, age, sex, and marital status. It is estimated that about 220 soldiers were infected with HIV during 1989 and 1990, and the rate of HIV infection will probably decrease in the future. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

The prevalence of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in teenagers living in the United States is at present relatively low. Of all AIDS cases reported, approximately 0.4 percent have been in persons aged 13 to 19 years old. However, AIDS represents only the advanced stage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and the number of HIV-infected teenagers in this country is not known. As a follow-up to a survey conducted in October 1985 which assessed the prevalence of HIV infection in the US military, a similar survey was conducted which focused on HIV-infected individuals under the age of 20 years. The results of blood tests that were performed on 1,141,164 teenagers who applied for entry into the military between October 15, 1985 and March 31, 1989 were examined. Of this number, 393 applicants tested positive for HIV infection, which represented about one in every 3,000 (0.34 per 1,000) applicants nationwide. No significant difference in the frequency of HIV positivity was noted between the sexes (0.35 per 1,000 in males compared with 0.32 per 1,000 in females). However, blacks tested positive for HIV infection significantly more frequently than whites or Hispanics, at 1.06 per 1,000 compared with 0.18 per 1,000 in whites and 0.31 per 1,000 in Hispanics. A marked difference in prevalence was observed by geographic area. In the north-central states, the incidence was less than 0.1 per 1,000, compared with greater than 2 per 1,000 in urban counties of New York, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Texas. Although the applicants to the military may not be representative of all teenagers nationwide, the data provide a basis for estimating the prevalence of HIV infection by geographic area and demographic groups. It is concluded that HIV infection is a real and immediate threat to US teenagers and it is not uncommon in this population, despite the fact that thus far, there have been few AIDS cases reported. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

The author reflects on the effectiveness of universal masking of patients and health care workers (HCW) to minimize the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections around the world. Topics include the policy by Massachusetts' biggest healthcare system to mandate mask wearing and routine symptom screening and diagnostic testing and other strategies like stay-at-home orders, school closures, and restrictions on public transportation.

This Viewpoint from CDC officials discusses late summer and early fall increases in COVID-19 cases among college-age students when they were returning to campus, and reiterates public health measures that could reduce outbreaks and the need for university-community partnership to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Viewpoint, CDC scientists discuss the public health urgency of increasing influenza vaccination uptake early in the 2020-2021 season to ameliorate the threat to patients and hospitals of overlapping outbreaks, and urges clinicians to strongly recommend the vaccine and administer it to patients whenever and wherever possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the efforts of the administration of United States President Donald J. Trump to eliminate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, as stated in the State of the Union Address of the president on February 5, 2019. Topics discussed include statistics on HIV cases in the country, initiative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and advances in HIV research and the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy.

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to the article "Long-term nonprogressive disease among untreated HIV-infected individuals: clinical implications of understanding immune control of HIV," by S. A. Migueles and M. Connors, published in a previous issue, along with the response of the study authors.