According to recent statistical projections by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all black men who have sex with other men are likely to get HIV positive at some point time in their lives.

CDC projections are based on data collected about infection rates between 2009 and 2013. According to the data, the risk of contracting HIV are anticipated to be one in four gay and bisexual Latino men, one in 11 for gay and bisexual white men, one in 49 for heterosexual black women, one in 2,514 for heterosexual white men.

The CDC study was presented at the Boston conference, HIV doctors and researchers present were surprised. They called the study a warning for the public health community to take immediate actions to prevent infection from spreading by devising ways to do same.

According to Patrick S. Sullivan, a professor of epidemiology at Emory University and principal scientist of AIDSVu.org, such projection warn us what may go wrong if steps are not taken to make things better.

The findings raise concerns. Philadelphia residents who are HIV/AIDS positive are about 19,500, and 624 of them were diagnosed in 2014. Most recent statistics stated that about one-third of the new cases were among gay and bisexual black men.

According to media reports, Javontae Williams, a 31-year-old gay black came across the statistics which left him shocked. “The mind-set of it is, one in two, you are just waiting your turn”, said Williams, a West Philadelphia resident, who is working full-time as a nurse on a geriatric unit.

There is growing need for preventive measures. It has been suggested that everyone should get tested and those who are diagnosed as HIV positive should receive treatment, while those who are negative should get on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is the most significant new preventive measure.

A drug called Truvada treats HIV infection was approved in 2004; it is put to uses for preventing infection among people who are at great risk. The pill is taken once a day, it is highly effective and has few side effects.