HIV/AIDS: History, Stopping the Spread, and the Bettering th

HIV/AIDS: History, Stopping the Spread, and the

Bettering th

Over the past thirty-five years, AIDS has become a well-known disease, affecting the lives of millions of Americans. Today the disease is still being researched, there are only a few ways that a person can contract it, and everyone is responsible for stopping the spread of AIDS. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a disease that makes it hard for the body to fight off infectious diseases. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and causes AIDS by infecting and damaging the white blood cells known as CD4 helper lymphocytes which prevent infection. AIDS was first called gay-related immunodeficiency syndrome (GRIDS). GRIDS was rapidly adopted by researchers. When they discovered it in women and straight men, it became acquired immune deficiency syndrome. (Hopper)Most people believe that HIV/AIDS came from a natural evolutionary event. This is called the “cut hunter theory”. According to the theory, an African native contracted a similar virus through a wound while preparing a chimpanzee for food. (Hopper) A study was done in 2001 by the Royal Society of London (RSL) to try to determine where it came from. Polio viruses, which were grown in monkeys’ kidney cells, are historically proven to c

(Ward) HIV/AIDS has changed the way many Americans live on a day-to-day basis. If a person has HIV disease, these problems will last more than a few days, and probably continue for several weeks. When this happens, the person will test positive for HIV. HIV can be transmitted by blood, semen, and secretions from the cervix or vagina. (Complete Guide) HIV is transmitted from one person to another when it is spread from the inside of an infected body to the inside of another person"tms body. These viruses were not normal in young men because of their high immune systems. The doctor then takes blood from their arm with a needle. When a person uses a needle, this needle becomes contaminated with their blood. (Hopper) The first case of the virus in the United States was around 1970. The percentage of homosexual men with HIV/AIDS has decreased, while the percentage of drug users and heterosexuals has increased. Doctors found this unusual and began to do more extensive research. Because the RSL had been wrong the first time, very little credit was given to Horowitz.