One possible reason for this trend is that "homosexual men have grown complacent about catching HIV because effective treatments can hold the disease in check. Some of these gay men may be more likely to have risky sex." There is no known cure for AIDS. Drugs developed over the last few years, though, have proved effective in prolonging life with HIV, the AIDS virus.

The study, which surveyed 2,401 homosexuals 23 to 29 years old between 1998 and 2000, found remarkable differences in HIV infections among different racial groups. In large cities almost a third of homosexual black men were found to be infected, along with 15 percent of Hispanics, 7 percent of whites and 3 percent of Asians.

When the AIDS epidemic started 20 years ago, most of those with AIDS were homosexual white men. Now just over half of the 40,000 new HIV infections in the United States each year occur among blacks. Among women, infected blacks outnumber whites by almost four to one.

Although African-Americans and other blacks view these statistics with alarm, thousands of miles away the AIDS epidemic continues to affect large areas of Africa. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa more than a quarter of adults are infected. In some villages virtually all adults in the peak sexually active years (15-45) have died, leaving grandparents to bring up children, many of whom were born with HIV.

Campaigns to promote safe sex do not seem to be working. The only real answer is the often-criticized but thoroughly effective biblical solution: no sexual activity outside of the marital relationship. (Source: Associate Press.)