Human Immunodeficiency Virus

This history of HIV/AIDS as a blurry timeline before the 1980’s since that was around the time reports came in which eventually become an HIV report. The origin of HIV can be traced back to the early part of the century. Some believe that in the 1920’s chimpanzees from the Congo came into contact with humans (Avert, 2016). Though reports were not identified as HIV until the 1980’s, the belief that HIV was already scattered throughout four other continents may have been incident (Avert, 2016). Even though for the past 30 years the world has been diligently working to find a cure and pushing prevention, we are still struggling each year with increasing diagnosis. The beginning of HIV did end with lots of death, but now with our improved antiviral medication there is hope for many.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not treated (About HIV/AIDS, n.d). Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot fully rid itself of HIV completely, even with treatment. Simply put, once you contract HIV, you have it for life. This disease attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system stave off infections. When left to its own devices, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to

What is HIV? It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if not treated. The Kaiser Family Foundation (2008), states that HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections. If left untreated, it reduces the number of T-Cells in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections. Also noted is the fact that HIV destroys so many of these cells that it renders the body helpless in fighting off the infections, while it takes advantage of the weaker immune system. This occurrence is part of the

History: HIV was believed to have originated in the Congo, where it was transmitted when a human came in contact with a species of chimpanzee that had acquired the virus. From then on, the virus only continued to spread, where it could have been believed to infect anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 people (“History of HIV and AIDS Overview”). The first forms of confirmed HIV discovered in the world took forms in two highly dangerous illnesses, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma. These rare diseases were first discovered and researched, although they didn’t know they were directly linked

It is believed that HIV originated in Africa in the chimpanzees. Humans then caught it from them. HIV “jumped species.”

“HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections” (AIDS.Gov, 2016).

Sharp, Paul M., and Beatrice H. Hahn. "Origins of HIV and the AIDS Pandemic." Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

Dan McClain is a sheriff in Scott County Indiana who opposed needle exchange programs until there was a surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks that were directly influenced by the drug Opana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linking a HIV outbreak to Opana usage within Scott County in Indiana causes the need for extreme attention to this prescription pill. In March of 2011 Scott County experienced eight new HIV cases, and just two months later that number had increased to 81 new cases, causing a significant concern for Dan McClain. He is sheriff within Scott County and wanted to know how he could quickly intercept the worst HIV outbreak Indiana had ever experienced. The untimely involvement of Opana’s in

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects the cells of the immune system. In particular, HIV attacks and destroys the T helper lymphocytes, or T-cells, which are crucial to the immune system and immune response. (These cells are also called CD4-positive lymphocytes because HIV uses the protein CD4, present on the surface of the cell, to attach itself and pry its way into the cell.) Each day, your body produces millions of CD4+ T-cells to help maintain your immunity and fight off invading viruses and germs. Once HIV is in your body, the virus is able to copy itself over and over, increasing its ability to kill CD4+ T-cells. Soon, infected cells outnumber healthy T-cells.

HIV corrupts the CD4 cells or T –cells, which weaken the immune system disabling the T-cells from detecting invaders such as viruses and bacteria. As more and more T-cells are destroyed, the immune system weakens and eventually progresses to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV/AIDS thrives in the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast

The first sign of HIV that was found in the human body was in 1959. But did not become a huge case until 1981 in the U.S. A Homosexual man died from mysterious symptoms.Soon after that many people started to die in the same way. In 1984, Dr. Robert Gallo discovered what causes AIDS, it was HIV. The deteriorating immune system breaks down because of HIV. Soon after that discovery, many people around the world were already affected by the travesty.

The accepted theory is that humans contracted the HIV virus from chimpanzees that were infected with the virus. The hunters then killed and ate the chimpanzees then were infected. Another theory is that the chimpanzees’ blood came in contact with the hunters open wounds which also spread the virus to the person from the monkey. In the United States however the HIV/Aids epidemic didn’t raise any eyebrows until 1981. The first cases of HIV came to light when mostly gay men and patients that were impaired immune systems got sick with this virus and no one knew what it was. Many people had various nicknames like gay related immune disease, gay cancer and even community acquired syndrome. In 1982 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, came up with the name Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is also known as AIDS. Dr. Robert Gallo of the National Institutes of Health claims that a retrovirus was most likely the cause of AIDS. In 1985 AIDS is put into the spotlight after actor Rock Hudson died from AIDS related illness. Rock Hudson also left a large amount of money to the American Foundation for AIDS research to help find a cure. There was a young boy named Ryan White who become popular in the news. When Ryan was a young boy he was treated for his hemophilia with many blood transfusions. Later it was found that he had contracted AIDS and in 1985 he was not allowed to return to his school as a teenager

HIV attacks the body’s immune system, by destroying CD4 cells also knows as T cells, that are a type of white blood cells that help the body immune system fight off infections. T cells have proteins that helps the HIV virus bind. If HIV is left untreated, it can reduce the numbers of infected CD4 cells in the body, making the person's more prone to infections ("CD4 Count, HIV, and AIDS: Test and Results -- What They Mean," n.d.). Over time, HIV can completely destroy these cells and the body can no longer fight off infectious disease. When the body begins losing its ability to fight infections and the CD4 cell

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the disease that is caused by Human Immunodeficiency virus. “It break downs the immune system –our body’s protection against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally wouldn’t affect them” (Planned Parenthood, 2014). HIV is a virus that attacks a key part of our immune system known as the T-Helper cells or CD4 cells. These cells help our body to fight against infectious diseases. When HIV attacks those cells it makes our immune system weak, and makes our body vulnerable to any diseases like AIDS. But having HIV doesn’t always mean having AIDS. A person has to meet certain criteria to be diagnosed with AIDS such as a very low CD4 cell count and the presence of any AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (About HIV/AIDS, 2015.). This is an incurable virus that has come a long way in the means of treatment and diagnosis. Testing for HIV has advanced rapidly throughout the years as scientists do more and more research on the virus. HIV is hard to detect after initial infection because antibodies for this virus take time to build up in the body before they can be detected with a common serological test. Screening tests and diagnostic tests are used to detect the presence of HIV. They can also tell you at what stage the virus may be at in the body because the test determines the ratio of CD4-cells or T-cells in your body that are infected