Infectious diseases still major public health issue, CDC says

Infectious diseases continue to pose “substantial challenges” to US public health, despite efforts and advances in control, according to a report by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published online July 2 in the Lancet. The second in a new CDC series about the health of Americans, the report describes the following priority areas. Endemic Diseases Endemic diseases affect millions of Americans, with racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately affected. High-burden diseases include: Chronic hepatitis: 75% of chronic hepatitis C virus cases and hepatitis C virus deaths occur among baby boomers. HIV: Incidence has remained stable. People in urban areas, blacks, Latinos, and men who have sex with men (MSM) remain most affected. New infections have climbed among young MSM. About 16% of HIV-positive people are unaware of their status, and 75% of HIV-positive people are not virally suppressed. Sexually transmitted infections: About half occur in young people. Rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia are highest among...