CDC: Too Many Americans Underestimate HIV Risk

     The United States has warned that far too many Americans underestimate¹ their risk for HIV or mistakenly believe the virus that causes AIDS is no longer a serious health threat.

    A statement was issued Thursday by the Centers for Disease² Control and Prevention in Atlanta, 30 years after the first report of the mysterious(神秘的) and deadly disease. It calls for increased AIDS awareness³ and prevention efforts.

    CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden says more than 1.1 million people in the United States have HIV and that many are living longer thanks to new treatments. But he warns there still is no cure for HIV and that most new infections occur in people under the age of 30.

    The CDC also warns that some groups continue to see higher rates of HIV infection than the general public.

    It says gay⁴ and bisexual men, about 2 percent of the U.S. population, account for about half of all new HIV cases. African-Americans and Latinos also have higher rates of HIV infection than the general population.

    Dr. Frieden says reducing HIV rates is critical, and that treating new HIV infections is expected to cost the U.S. more than $200 billion over the next decade.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 underestimate   

vt.对...估价过低，低估

参考例句：

• Don't underestimate the role of theory.不要轻视理论的作用。
• I think a lot of people still underestimate him.我觉得很多人仍然低估了他。

2 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

4 gay   

adj.同性恋的；色彩鲜艳的；n.(男)同性恋者

参考例句：

• I don't know he was a gay person.我不知道他是同性恋者。
• Spring comes round to the earth again and everything looks fresh and gay.春回大地，万象更新。