NEW MEXICO -- Hispanics now represent about half of new HIV/AIDS infections in New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Health officials announced Tuesday.

In 2007, Hispanics made up 45 percent of new HIV cases in New Mexico. Caucasians represented 33 percent and African Americans represented 5 percent of new cases in New Mexico, officials said.

At the end of 2007, there were 1,322 people living with HIV and 2,155 people living with AIDS in New Mexico.

New Mexico has seen a steady rise among new Hispanic cases since 2003, according to the Department of Health's Epidemiology and Response Division.

The Department of Health examined its data after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of Americans infected by HIV is about 40 percent higher than the federal agency had originally estimated and that African Americans and Hispanics have higher rates of new HIV infection than other racial or ethnic groups.

The department spends about three million dollars in federal and state funds for statewide prevention strategies targeted toward populations at risk of contracting or spreading HIV. The department is seeking grant funding this year to build a stronger network of programs targeting Hispanics, officials said.

The Department of Health recently launched a new web-based data system that will enhance its ability to examine newly reported cases of HIV/AIDS and emerging trends.

For more information on HIV or the CDC's report, go to www.cdc.gov/hiv/.