HIV

It is believed that HIV originated with chimpanzees. Chimpanzees who were infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infected humans when they were hunted, and their meat exposed the hunters to the virus. The virus then mutated and became what we know as HIV, a virus that attacks the body's immune system, but most specifically it attacks the T cells. T cells are the cells responsible for fighting off infections. When a person goes untreated with HIV, the number of T cells they have decreases until they are no longer able to fight off infections or cancers. This stage is known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and is the very last stage of the HIV infection. While there is no cure for HIV, with the appropriate treatment and medical care, HIV can be controlled. Currently, the United States has an estimated 1.2 million people with HIV. Approximately 1 in 8 of those that are infected are unaware that they are infected. Statistically, the highest percentage of the population suffering from HIV/AIDS are gay and bisexual men, followed by those who inject drugs.

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