Public officials are concerned that complacency about AIDS could result in an upsurge of the disease after a decade of stability. "I'm scared by the trends we are starting to see," said Dr. Helene Gayle, AIDS chief at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She noted complacency is especially high among young gay men. "We have seen troubling signs over the past year that we fear could signal a resurgence of the epidemic among gay men," said Gayle.

Currently, an estimated 40,000 Americans each year contract HIV, a decline from 100,000 new infections during the mid-1980s. The decline was attributed to safer sex habits and the avoidance of dirty needles.

But the recent analysis by the CDC showed that Americans still have reckless habits. The data found an estimated five million people put themselves at high risk for AIDS by engaging in prostitution for drugs or money, using crack cocaine or injecting drugs, having six or more sexual partners annually, having sex with someone known to be infected with HIV, or having male homosexual contact.

The data was presented at a briefing hosted by the American Medical Association prior to the 13th International Conference on AIDS.

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