Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (slowly-replicating retrovirus) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)‚[1] an infectious disease in which progressive failure of the human immune system leads to life-threatening opportunistic infections and/or cancer. HIV infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells)‚ macrophages‚ and dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms:
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Mandatory AIDS Testing AIDS has become a worldwide epidemic that has struck every identifiable group. However‚ persons who are considered to be in a high-risk group of contracting HIV‚ the disease believed to cause AIDS‚ are still stigmatized by the media and other professionals as being diseased and abnormal. It is quite surprising still that this type of stereotype still exists now in our gender-bending society. No longer do only gays‚ prostitutes‚ bisexual men‚ intravenous drug users contract
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In the 1980’s‚ Cuba emerged as one of the leading forces in the fight against HIV in the Caribbean. The new virus stumped doctors as it ravaged and attempted to engulf the small island in disease and squalor. Fortunately‚ the Cuban government took fast action and put preventative measures into place to both detect and prevent the spread of the HIV virus. Cuba’s aggressive measures included testing citizens for the virus and quarantining those infected who were infected in sanatoriums. The United
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RENT and the AIDS Epidemic The movie RENT was released in 2005 but is actually set in late 1989/early 1990‚ which was arguably the peak of the AIDS epidemic in the United States and also a time which having the disease was basically a death sentence. While the first outbreak was reported in 1981 very little was actually known about the disease. Upon the outbreak‚ HIV and AIDS was seen and known (wrongly) as a “gay mans disease” because many gay men had been diagnosed with the type of cancer that
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AIDS: The Silent Killer Introduction AIDS is one of the most commonly known sexually transmitted diseases. The last stages of HIV‚ Human Immunodeficiency Virus‚ are what we know as AIDS‚ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is similar to other viruses like the flu or common cold except the human immune system cannot destroy the virus. The virus can hide in the cells of the body for long periods of time and attacks important parts of the immune system like T-cells or CD4 cells. Once HIV destroys
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By: Richard Humphrey E-mail: rhumph@po-box.mcgill.ca Introduction Since the appearance of AIDS in the late seventies and early eighties‚ the disease has had attached to it a significant social stigma. This stigma has manifested itself in the form of discrimination‚ avoidance and fear of people living with AIDS (PLWAs). As a result‚ the social implications of the disease has been extended from those of other life threatening conditions to the point at which PLWAs are not only faced with
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Date: 10 January 2013 Executive Summary: Operating in an industry where intense competition exists‚ Foreign Aid Canada (FAC) has encountered some challenges and strategic choices that will be discussed and analyzed in this report. FAC is considering two strategic alternatives in order to introduce testing‚ treatment‚ and education of AIDS in Africa and Asia: 1. AIDS Clinics 2. Mobile AIDS Units This report will also assess another major alternative to outsource its HR function‚ travel‚ facilities
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World AIDS Day‚ observed on 1 December every year‚ is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day‚ often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995‚ the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007‚[1] and
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HIV AS A NATIONAL DISASTER IN KENYA The term ‘national disaster’ refers to the detrimental effect of a particular phenomenon whether natural or not which affects the population of a nation negatively in terms of loss of human lives or massive harm or injury to a large section of the population. In the year 1999‚ former president Daniel Arap Moi declared HIV/AIDS a national disaster in Kenya and called for the establishment of the National AIDS Control Council. HIV is a virus which causes progressive
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Currently‚ there is not a vaccine for the AIDS virus‚ but things have been progressing toward an effective one for many years. An AIDS vaccine can be effective in two ways. Hopefully we can come up with a vaccine to prevent or delay illness in those already infected. A preventative vaccine is a substance introduced into the human body that teaches the immune system to detect and destroy a pathogen. Another way would be through a therapeutic vaccine to prevent or delay illness in those already
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