AIDS

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(Redirected from HIV)

The AIDS sign, on national AIDS day.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an immunological disease caused by the HIV virus.

1 Effects & Cause
2 Infected Population
3 Cure
4 ATS Discussion Threads
5 External Sources

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Effects & Cause

AIDS affects the human immune system, damaging it severely. This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and disease. HIV is transmitted from one being to another by the mixture of bodily fluids interacting. These can include blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-seminal fluid, and breast milk. This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

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Infected Population

As of 2007 we know that there are at least 33.2 million people infected with this disease. AIDS has killed 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Many of these deaths are in Africa, where it is believed the virus originated. The AIDS virus was identified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981; the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV, the supposed cause of AIDS) was identified in the late 1980's.

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Cure

A cure does not exist for this deadly disease, although there are some drugs and treatments that can slow its progress. Anti-retro viral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection. Since there is no cure people have started to try to prevent it by promoting safe sex and do not share needles.

There are several conspiracy theorists who claim that the virus was synthesized at Fort Detrick, a U.S. Army Medical Command installation located in Frederick, Maryland, USA, and tested on homosexual prisoners.

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