Press Releases

The following is a list of press releases from CDC and other organizations. Press releases are designed for use by the media and include information intended to assist in the writing of a story, often in the form of a quote from a CDC official. They also include contact information from the Office of Communication.

From the CDC Office of Communication – Media Relations

“Mortality Declines for Several Leading Causes of Death in 1999”
This press release announces that the mortality for several leading causes of death declined in 1999, noting that close attention is being paid to the trend in HIV mortality.
(Added June 26, 2001)

“CDC Issues Report on the Top Ten States with the Highest Rates of TB”
This press release announces that the number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the United States declined by seven percent from 1999 to 2000, continuing an eight-year downward trend since the TB epidemic peaked in 1992..
(Added June 13, 2001)

“CDC Expands Global AIDS Program to the Caribbean and Latin America”
This press release discusses the announcement by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will expand its Global AIDS Program to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean and Latin America.
(Added June 8, 2001)

“20 Years of AIDS: 450,000 Americans Dead, Over 1 million Have Been Infected”
This press release discusses the effect that AIDS has had in the United States, since the first case was identified in 1981. 774,467 AIDS cases have been reported, and approximately 450,000 Americans have died.
(Added June 1, 2001)

“HHS Details Leading HIV/AIDS Physician to Gates Foundation”
This press release announces that Dr. Helene Gayle of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will take a newly created position as senior advisor for HIV/AIDS with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help steer the activities of the foundation in combating HIV and related diseases worldwide.
(Added May 15, 2001)

“8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Chicago, February 4 – 7, 2001”
This press release highlights the 8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections and discusses CDC’s new approach to HIV prevention that will involve intensive prevention outreach and services to those living with the disease.
(Added February 5, 2001)

“CDC Issues New Report On STD Epidemics”
This press release discusses the CDC report release that shows an increase of gonorrhea rates in the United States by nine percent between 1997 and 1999, raising concerns that steady declines in the disease over the past two decades could possibly be reversed. (Added December 5, 2000)

“Most Teens Are Not Provided STD Or Pregnancy Prevention Counseling During Check-Ups”
This press release discusses a CDC study released at the National STD Prevention Conference held Dec. 4 to 7 in Milwaukee, WI. The findings suggest that a greater effort is needed to encourage health care providers to talk with teenage patients about STD and pregnancy prevention. (Added December 4, 2000

From Other Organizations

“HHS Announces $53.7 Million in Grants to Improve HIV/AIDS Care for Women, Children, Youth and Families”
This press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discusses new grants available to 33 organizations providing HIV/AIDS care and services for women and their children. These grants total $53.7 million.

“HIV Causing Tuberculosis Cases to Double in Africa”
This press release from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) discusses evidence presented at the Organization of African Unity Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Infectious Diseases in Abuja, Nigeria, showing that TB cases are increasing 10% per year in Africa because of HIV.
(Added April 23, 2001)

“UNAIDS Welcomes Outcome of South African Court Case”
This press release from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) highlights the withdrawal by 39 pharmaceutical companies and associations of their legal case before the High Court of South Africa.
(Added April 19, 2001)

“Study Confirms Gender Differences in Progression from HIV to AIDS”
This news release from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discusses the findings reported in the March 8 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Despite differences in “Viral Load,” men and women develop AIDS at the same rate. (Added March 8, 2001)

“World Bank and CDC Sign Agreement to Improve Health in Developing and Transition Countries”
This press release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the signing of a groundbreaking agreement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Bank to work more closely together to improve health in developing and transition countries through better communication, coordination, and collaboration. (Added February 6, 2001)

“HIV Treatment Guidelines Updated for Adults and Adolescents”
This news release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the release of the updated version of the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, which includes revised recommendations for when to initiate anti-HIV therapy. (Added February 6, 2001)

“HRSA Awards Nearly $583 Million for HIV/AIDS Care in High-Incidence Areas”
This press release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces that nearly $583 million in Ryan White CARE Act grants to fund primary health care and support services for low-income individuals in the 51 eligible metropolitan areas hit hardest by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For the third year, part of the funds each EMA receives will be used to bolster HIV-related health care. (Added January 24, 2001)

“HRSA Awards $42.3 Million for Early HIV/AIDS Treatment”
This press release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces that organizations in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will share $42.3 million in new grants to provide early intervention, outpatient health care and related services to low-income people with HIV and AIDS and those at risk of contracting HIV.
(Added January 17, 2001)

“World AIDS Day 2000: NIH Announces New Plan for Global AIDS Research”
This news release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces a new initiative and strategic plan for global research on HIV/AIDS aimed at slowing the disaster and reversing its destruction of communities, economies and nations worldwide. (Added December 1, 2000)