Houston Chronicle (Internet / Print) 02/07/06 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/3640783.html Today, the rate of HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, among young black females between 14 to 24 is rising at an alarming rate, leading the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to sponsor its third annual Black AIDS Awareness Day. Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The CDC also reports that in 2001, HIV/AIDS was the No. 1 cause of death for black women ages 25-34. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a health crisis for blacks. By definition, a person with a count below 200 is considered to have AIDS, said Dr. Bruno P. Granwehr, assistant professor at UTMB's division of infectious diseases in the Internal Medicine Department. Medications today can reduce the chances of a person with HIV getting AIDS.