A study of young gay and bisexual men in major U.S. cities found that more than three-quarters of those infected with HIV were unaware they had the AIDS virus.

The finding, presented Monday during the first day of scientific sessions at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Spain, is a worrying sign that the epidemic could be in danger of accelerating again in the United States.

The study indicated that ignorance of infection among HIV positive gay and bisexual men was three times as common as previous estimates, which were based on HIV tests results of people entering the military or jobs that require screening.

Those have indicated that one in four people were unaware they were infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which conducted the survey.

The survey "helps explain, at least in part, why many young gay and bisexual men in the United States are becoming infected," said Duncan MacKellar, who led the study.

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