This is news that may elicit a mixed reaction. Statistics in a report released by the D. C. HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) show that 3% of the district's residents aged 12 years or older are either suffering from AIDS or are infected with HIV. However, data also reveals that fresh cases of full blown AIDS or AIDS related deaths have diminished in the past four years.

It is important to note that a person infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) may or may not suffer from AIDS. If the infection is detected early, patients can continue living normal lives with proper care and medication.

The decline in new AIDS cases is credited to aggressive testing and treatment efforts made by HIV/AIDS Administration. The report discloses that the number of people given diagnoses of AIDS declined from 786 in
2004 to 525 in 2008 and AIDS deaths fell from 379 in 2004 to 274 in 2007.

D. C. Council member David A. Catania said that the report was important since it was a stepping stone in achieving further results. "A few years ago, we were in the dark. Now, we have the best data in the country. We choose to know". The report will help authorities in taking the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS to a new pedestal.