Surge in AIDS Among Americans Feared [Associated Press, Baltimore Sun, July 9, 2000, pg 21A]: This is an AP press account of an AMA sponsored presentation by Dr. Helene Gayle who is the AIDS Chief at the CDC. Dr. Gayle noted that the frequency of HIV transmission in the U.S. is now estimated at about 40,000/year, down from 100,000 new infections annually in the mid-1980's However, there were disturbing trends including the observation that 2 - 4% of the adult population have high-risk behavior defined as six or more sexual partners annually, sex with a person known to have HIV infection, sex with a gay male, use of injection drugs or crack cocaine, or engaging in prostitution. The rate of seroconversion in gay men is now said to be stable at 1 - 4 %, but there appears to be a resurgence of HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases in this population in San Francisco and presumably other locations as well. posted 7/19/2000