Diagnoses of HIV and AIDS infections are dropping in Northern Virginia, but public health officials are battling disproportionately high rates of infection among black residents. Blacks in Northern Virginia accounted for 106 diagnoses in 2009, down from 132 in 2008 but still 44 percent of all diagnoses in the region. Whites made up 80 cases — about 33 percent — down from 91 in 2008. And 41 Hispanic residents tested positive, down from 54, and about 17 percent of the region’s 240 total diagnoses.

Falls Church has the highest HIV disease rate in the state, followed by Richmond and Alexandria, according to December statistics from the Virginia Department of Health. Each jurisdiction has a rate more than four times the state average of about 300 cases per 100,000 people.