HIV cases are on the rise. That's according to just released national data by the Centers for Disease Control.

The findings show a dramatic 48 percent increase in those diagnosed with the infection for 2006, compared to just one year earlier.

The largest group of those inflicted with HIV were gay men, followed by heterosexuals involved in high-risk contact, like unprotected sex. Injection drug users rounded out the top three.

An epidemiologist with Oregon's Office of Disease Prevention and Epidemiology says the report might be an exaggeration. That's because Oregon cases are included in the picture for the very first time.

You hear the messages everywhere you turn, like in these public service announcements. But the CDC says they've fallen on deaf ears. At least, that's according to the latest figures.

But now Oregon's HIV cases, along with six other states, are being tabulated into the grand scheme of things.

"It had to be my secret," said Jon Jaramillo, who's HIV positive.

The Eugene resident and California native was never taken into account when he contracted the infection sometime between the ages of 12 and 18.

"I was sexually molested by an adult male in my home. And that event triggered a Pandora's box of sexual activity," said Jaramillo.

That's because the CDC only calculated stats for 33 states before this latest report. Oregon and California were not included because a variety of technical reasons, like Oregon's "no-naming" method.

The CDC questioned how accurate the amount of reported cases actually was until 2006, when Oregon started putting names with numbers.

"We've noticed that the trends have remained fairly stable as far as the number of new infections," said Sarah-Kate Sharkey of HIV Alliance.

Experts say the 48 percent increase reflected in the report could be because of the increase in states now taken into consideration.

But those that are HIV positive, like Travis Pruitt, say the numbers are still devastating.

"You think you're invincible. You think you can go out and do those things and it's simply not true. And I think there are better ways for those lessons to get across to the youth," said Pruitt.

Lessons that could be learned from high school education programs and PSA's, not through shared needles and unprotected sex.

Eugene's HIV Alliance says the main funding source for one of their HIV prevention efforts, the shared needled program, might not be renewed this summer because of budget cutbacks.