A summary of federal government figures on syphilis and HIV:
_ The rate of primary and secondary syphilis _ the most infectious stages of the disease _ reached an all-time low in 2000 then started a climb over the next seven years, the most recent time period available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
_ The rate increased 15.2 percent between 2006 and 2007 _ from 3.3 cases per 100,000 people to 3.8 cases. The actual number increased from 9,756 to 11,466.
_ Men who have sex with men represented 65 percent of the primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2007.
_ More than 1 million people in the U.S. have HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. One in five is unaware of the infection.
_ About 56,300 Americans become infected with HIV each year.
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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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