HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Since the appearance of the HIV virus in the early 1980s in the United States, there have been reported AIDS cases in almost every country in the world. Each year more than 1.5 million people die of AIDS and there are now over 30 million people living with HIV today. By the end of 2012, there were about 30 million fatalities from AIDS around the world. More than 90% of all those infected with HIV live in developing countries, with the bulk of those in Africa. Despite nearly three decades of effort, vaccines to prevent infection with HIV are still in the trial stages¹ and there is no effective cure for those who have contracted HIV. However, there are now drugs available to treat patients who have HIV and many will be able to live for more years by taking the prescribed medication. There are also developments in the use of antivirals such as tenofovir to provide protection to HIV negative individuals from developing AIDS. If left untreated, an HIV prognosis eventually leads to AIDS, which is always fatal.