*The origin of aids is believed to be in Africa.
*The first case was in 1976. A female Danish doctor who had spent several years in Zaire working in a jungle hospital fell ill.
*The spread of this disease horrified the medical community
*There are rapidly increasing cases involving babies born to mothers carrying the HIV and among sexually active teens.
*In 1985 AIDS came to the mainstream through the death of Rock Hudson.
*Currently there are over 136,000 cases of AIDS in the US.
*AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. The virus gets into the blood system and attacks the immune system by destroying T4 helper cells.
*The virus may take as long as ten years to destroy the immune system. HIV enters the system through blood products. The most common entry source is through sex and direct injection as in IV drug use.
*AIDS is not a disease, people do not die of AIDS. AIDS destroys the immune system so that other diseases can spread through the body. These diseases are what kill people.
*The development of AZT has prolonged the life of AIDS patients by retarding the replication of the virus. AZT is now prescribed to those that have not shown the signs of full blown AIDS.
*Experimental drugs are being developed and tested, such as compound Q, a derivative of the Chinese cucumber,. AIDS activists have forced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up drug trials, the argument being what do we have to lose, we are going to die anyway.
*Most researchers believe that a vaccine for AIDS is at least ten years away.
*Every 14 minutes someone becomes infected with the HIV virus: every twenty minutes someone dies of AIDS related complications. The victoms are babies, children, teens and young adults. AIDS is the leading cause of death of males between the ages of 25 and 35. The disease is non- discriminating, it can attack and kill anyone who is exposed.