Despite advancements in medicine, doctors and researchers have been unable to alleviate or find cures for some of the most deadly illnesses. In the early to mid 1900’s, illnesses such as polio, Spanish flu, and tuberculosis plagued a large amount of the population and resulted in thousands of deaths. Years later, childhood illnesses such as chicken pox, measles, and mumps became common. However, there are few cases of these illnesses today due to vaccinations. Additionally, modern medicine has successfully found cures for many illnesses such as cancer, which once claimed the lives of more than 70% of its victims.

What is Aids?

Unfortunately, doctors and researchers who devote many years to discovering cures for illnesses are unable to find a cure for a disease that claims over 2 million lives a year in this country. AIDS, which is an acquired immune deficiency syndrome, affects 35 million globally. AIDS is a virus that attacks the immune system. The purpose of our immune system is to fight infections. When under attack, our immune systems cannot function properly which makes us more prone to illnesses and colds. Individuals who are diagnosed with AIDS must first become infected with HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS. Those living with HIV do not have AIDS; however it is possible to spread the virus to other people. Individuals who are affected with HIV do not become sick and die immediately. The rate of progression for this disease varies. Some are unknowingly affected for several years, whereas others may show signs of HIV a few months after exposure. On average, it takes 8 to 10 years for AIDS to develop. However, there are cases when an infected person developed AIDS soon after being exposed to the HIV virus.