AIDS

WHAT IS aIDS

• HIV is a virus that causes AIDS
• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• AIDS stands for Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome

WHO/WHERE

• 35 million people are living with HIV or AIDS worldwide
• Approximately 68% are in sub-Saharan Africa
• 40% of new infections are among those under 25
• AIDS and HIV has reached epidemic proportions in many developing countries

WHEN

• On June 5, 1981 the epidemic started

WHY

• The first recognised cases of AIDS occurred in the USA in the early 1980s (more about this period can be found on our History of AIDS page). A number of gay men in New York and California suddenly began to develop rare opportunistic infections and cancers that seemed stubbornly resistant to any treatment. At this time, AIDS did not yet have a name, but it quickly became obvious that all the men were suffering from a common syndrome.

WHAT WE WERE SURPRISED ABOUT

• We were suprised at how many people and how young of people were affected

CITATIONS

• "What Do the Acronyms HIV and AIDS Stand For? - San Francisco AIDS Foundation." San Francisco AIDS Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.
• "What Do the Acronyms HIV and AIDS Stand For? - San Francisco AIDS Foundation." San Francisco AIDS Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.
• "What Is AIDS?" What Is AIDS? N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.