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The Truth about HIV/AIDS

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The Truth about HIV/AIDS
The Truth about HIV/AIDS
Iyana Scott
Language Arts

The Truth about AIDS
How can we decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS virus? There are approximately 1,148,200 individuals residing in the United States who are living with the HIV virus or full blown AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also referred to as HIV, is an advanced virus that gradually reproduces a retrovirus that results into the development of immunodeficiency syndrome, known as AIDS. AIDS is a condition when the human immune system progressively fails, allowing life-threatening infections and cancers to grow. Both HIV/AIDS have long-term effects on communities, families and the welfare and future of our economy and society as a whole. Since the 1980s, when the first case of AIDS was identified the growth rate has been unbelievable. This disease has such an amazing effect because it not only attacks the health of the infected; it weakens and kills many individuals during their young adulthood. It breakdowns and breaks up families by destroying the age group that is important to the existence of young and old members in society. Nationwide mid-2002, there were 11.8 million young people between the age of 15-24 living with HIV. Almost half of all new cases of HIV infections occur in people under 25 and half of these take place among young people between the ages of 13 and 21(U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy). Society normal reaction to the news of an individual affected by the virus is usually a negative one, experiencing shock, fear, shame, and disbelief. We may even wonder how the individual contracted the virus and how long the individual have been living with it. All of these emotions are normal due to our lack of education on the topic. We must focus more on the prevention of this overwhelming disease, and as a community we need to unite in the fight against it (Bacchusnetwork.org). HIV/AIDS is a growing widespread in the United States. It does not

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