D.C. Has Highest Aids Rate In Survey

The number of people in the United States diagnosed with AIDS in 1995 fell 7 percent from the previous year, federal researchers said Thursday.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 74,180 AIDS cases, or 27.8 per 100,000 residents, in 1995. That’s down from 1994, when there were 79,897 cases and a rate of 30.2.

In 1993, the year federal researchers expanded their definition of AIDS, there were 105,828 cases.

Washington, D.C., had the grim distinction of having the highest AIDS rate among U.S. states and territories in 1995. Puerto Rico was a distant second, followed by New York, Florida and New Jersey.

The nation’s capital had 185.7 AIDS cases per 100,000 residents, down from 246.9 in 1994, when it also led the nation. North Dakota had the lowest AIDS rate, at 0.8.

Washington state posted a rate of 16.4 cases per 100,000 in 1995, while Idaho had 4.2 and Montana had 2.9.