In America about 1 million people are living with HIV. However, 1 in 7 of those people go years without even know they are effected. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which is a virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV, and there is no medicine that can cure you of it at his time. Meaning, once you are infected with HIV, you have it for life.
The exact origin of HIV/AIDS is controversial and widely unknown. We do not know the first person to be infected, or how it spread from the initial person to others. There are many theories on how it came about but studies do suggest that it originated in Africa, and due to modern traveling it was able to spread out of Africa quickly. Although HIV/AIDS had been around for many years, it was first brought to the public's eye in the 80's by America. In America, HIV/AIDS was mostly spread through gay men, blood transfusions and drug usage. Although it was said to be spread through the gay community, it can effect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender, and race. HIV can also be easily spread from bodily fluids such as blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and even breast milk. .
HIV is a lentivirus that attacks the immune system, since it's discovery over 76 million people have been infected and 39 million people have died. After being infected with HIV/AIDS for 2-4 weeks, you may begin to experience flu-like symptoms called ARS (acute retroviral syndrome). However, not everyone infected with HIV/AIDS goes through ARS. Many people who are infected with HIV/AIDS do not show any symptoms for up to 10 years. This stage where you have no symptoms of HIV/AIDS is known as the Clinical Latency Stage. During this stage, HIV reproduces at low levels, but is still active and is still spreading. Although they are nearly symptom free, they can still transmit HIV/AIDS to others.
