Infectious Disease includes the occurrence of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis and hepatitis (all types) as representative of all major infectious diseases in a state.  It is a running three-year average.

This component is neither age- nor race-adjusted.  Also, as reporting comes from each individual state health department, the level of accuracy may differ from state to state. 

Table 28 displays the 2007 ranks based on 2004 to 2006 data (Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Reports, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  AIDS cases in 2006 were not available as the data collection system for this measure is being revised.  For this year only, 2006 AIDS cases were assumed equal to 2005 AIDS cases.  The incidence of infectious disease per 100,000 population varies from a reported low of five cases or less in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota to a reported high of more than 40 cases in New York and Florida.  The national average is 22.5 cases per 100,000 population, down from 22.6 cases per 100,000 population from the 2006 Edition and down considerably from 40.7 cases per 100,000 population from the 1990 Edition.

Reported infectious disease decreased by 4.0 or more cases per 100,000 population in Arizona.  It increased in New York by 2.5 cases per 100,000 population.  Since the 1990 Edition, Oregon, Alaska, Washington and Arizona have seen the greatest decreases in reported cases with more than 70 fewer cases per 100,000 population.  No states have experienced increases in the incidence of infectious disease since the 1990 Edition. 

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