CDC: One in five gay, bi urban men is HIV-positive

Almost one in every five gay or bisexual men in 21 major cities across the United States is HIV-positive, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study also revealed that young men -- in particular, young African-American men -- are least likely to be aware of their status.

"We need to reinvigorate our response to preventing HIV among gay and bisexual men," Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, told Reuters. "We can't allow HIV to continue its devastating toll among gay and bisexual men, and in particular, among young black men."

8,153 men took part in the CDC's 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, which examined the prevalence -- as well as the awareness -- of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The study found that 19 percent of men who have sex with men (MSM) are HIV-positive.

According to the Surveillance System results, 28 percent of African-American MSM are HIV-positive, compared to 18 percent of Hispanic MSM and 16 percent of white MSM.

The study also revealed that a good portion of the younger generation of gay men were not aware of their HIV-positive status. Of MSM ages 18 to 29, 63 percent did not know that they were HIV-positive.

"This alarming new data provides further evidence that prevention efforts for gay men have not been adequate to meet the growing epidemic and should be dramatically scaled up," Carl Schmid of the nonprofit AIDS Institute said in a statement. "The severity of the impact of HIV in the gay community is nothing new. What has been missing is an appropriate response by our government -- at the federal, state and local levels -- and the gay community itself."