Take 5

Number 1:America's Worst The same week a report revealed that 3% of Washington, D.C., residents have HIV (and that the number of cases had increased 22% since 2006), health officials said the figure might be undercounted. With a 1% infection rate considered a 'generalized or severe' epidemic by experts (overall U.S. prevalence is 0.6%), D.C.'s rate puts it on par with 22 of the 44 nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the world's hardest-hit region. Only one other of the 10 regions tracked by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS'the Caribbean'has a country with a rate that can match D.C.'s. Number 2:It Wasn't Chunky Style The Food and Drug Administration takes the unusual step of issuing a health advisory targeted specifically to HIVers, urging avoidance of peanuts and peanut products because of their link to a dangerous salmonella outbreak. Number 3:Say 'Aah' While no expert has advocated the practice, research has shown that unprotected oral sex between serodiscordant partners might help non-HIVers develop immunity to the virus. More research is needed. Of course. Number 4:One Nasty Man Republican Colorado state senator Dave Schultheis spouts off about his beliefs on promiscuity and HIV: 'What I'm hoping for is that, yes, that person may have AIDS'have it seriously as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that [promiscuity].' Number 5:On Deaf Ears Studies of college students unveil strong mistrust of HIV prevention messages among minorities. Among the causes: the legacy of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, feelings of shame associated with an HIV test, and a sense that celebs in prevention campaigns are not credible.