HIV and AIDS

BASICS

• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system by killing CD4+T cells
• HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system by killing CD4+T cells
• Once most of those cells are killed the body is unguarded and open for attack
• Which leads to the formation of AIDS

IMPACT

• 2.3 million people die from HIV or AIDS every year and it is slowly decreasing
• It lowers the GDP of many countries because they are losing workers
• Creates a lot higher costs of healthcare for governments and can undermine health
• Creates a lot higher costs of healthcare for governments and can undermine health
• Insurance schemes, care can become unaffordable in places where it is prevelant

SEARCH FOR A CURE

• Over the years it has seemed to be uncurable but people are still researching
• Two studies have found a somewhat cure, it doesn't fully cure the virus but it
• Allows the patient to be freed from taking multiple pills everyday to stay alive
• One approach they treated newborns with a combination of drugs that made the HIV
• Almost invisible and the other was editing their immune system to be immune to HIV

CITATIONS

• http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story051/en/
• http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story051/en/
• http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/epidemic_status/deaths_text/en/