The Mississippi State department of Health says new data shows African Americans remain most likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection.

In 2011, Mississippi's African American women were nearly11 times more likely than white women and nearly twice as likely as Hispanic women to be newly diagnosed with HIV.

African American men were seven times more likely than white men and three times more likely than Hispanic men to be newly diagnosed.

Health officials say the data suggests that African Americans are more likely to be in a situation where HIV status is unknown or undisclosed. They say casual sex requires the correct and consistent use of condoms and routine HIV testing after each sexual encounter.

MSDH works through its county health departments and with community-based organizations to increase access to testing.