The Outbreak of the HIV Virus

Who would create perpetually thought that a disease, possibly brought to America by infected African monkeys, would affect the country everlastingly? This is exactly what happened in the late nineteenth century when the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) was introduced to America. The unpredictable epidemic caused a huge outrage for years to come. The outbreak of the HIV virus, AIDS, in the early 1980s resulted in medical checkup research, national misconceptions, and ultimately growing aw arness. Appearing origin only in homosexual men, AIDS was an unk right offn virus to the entire United States.Reports of unknown and unexplainable symptoms caused much confusion among patients and even doctors. In 1981, the first reports explained that 41 homosexual men in the San Fransisco area had a rare and often rapidly black form of crabmeat (Altman n. p. ). After years of researching these cases and millions of others appearing later in the dec ade, scientists discovered that it was not cancer they were dealing with. They called it HIV (Human Immune Virus) which leads to AIDS (Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome) that rogressively destroys the bodys ability to iron out infections and certain cancers (ARIC n. p. ).With minimal research there was nothing to initially combat the virus but, thanks to clock time and funding, there were some(prenominal) drugs that beed to help stop the spread of the virus in ones body. These anti-retroviral drugs clam up dont constitute as curatives for the virus, but have definitely helped and continue to help patients live longer (ARIC n. p. ). Since a vaccine to resurrect an immune system response that will prevent infection or disease development still has not been found, other treatments have been tested.Accupuncture, stress management, hypnosis, exercise, good nutrition, and an overall positive attitude all seem to alleviate symptoms even if they are not proved cures of the viru s (Packer 78-88). Although AIDS is a life lowering disease, there were galore(postnominal) people living with it by keeping healthy and staying safe. Scott Fried had not tried and true any of the aniviral drugs however, practices such as taking 80 herbs and vitamins a day, staying physically fit, visiting the doctor every(prenominal) three months, and cosmos happy have kept him alive with the virus for thirteen years (Fried speach). some victims have not lived as long as he which is why AIDS has lead to some extensive research. Investigators supported by private and mankind funds continued to search for a cure or even an explanation of HIV/AIDS for two decades because like the b lack fire, AIDS has killed off millions of people in a short time. Also like the black iniquity did, AIDS carried with it a long string of misconceptions. In the Middle Ages anyone carrying the black plague was to be avoided. Similarly, the public would often avoid people with AIDS.There were fabrica tions that AIDS could be caught by another human being from sneezing, coughing, hugging, kissing or even any casual contact so, people stayed a focus from those who were infected by AIDS. Another lie was that AIDS was caused by something magical or mystical (Taylor 23-24). Though some were alike careful of catching the virus, others were not careful enough. Since the initial outbreak was among gay men it was simply simulated that only gay men could be affected. Then reports of IV drug users having the disease still seemed to winnow out the chance of the common person being infected.Next, hemophiliacs and people who had had blood transfusions were reported followed by blacks, Hispanics, lesbians, straight women and in the long run white, heterosexual, males. Still everyone said It cant happen to me, until it did (Fried speech). This assumption that AIDS only affected fewer amounts of people and only minorities was the basis of all misconceptions almost that virus. People did not believe the virus could have any impact on their lives but, it did impact everyones lives directly and or indirectly.Now that AIDS is the second in the lead cause of death in the United States among people aged 25 to 44 (ARIC n. p. ), the misconceptions have been proven to be false. Although it was statistically correct that 66% of people infected by AIDS were homosexual males, 24% were IV drug users, and only 4% were heterosexual males or females (Packer 17) it was still a fact that AIDS can affect anyone. After years of research and statistical reports there were finally people relaying these messages to the public.motivational speakers, like Scott Fried, continue to reach out to teens and adults about AIDS and sex. Information about these subjects can also be found easily, not only at hospitals or doctors offices but in books, magazines, pamphlets, and even on the internet. Conducting a simple search on http//www. yahoo. com came up with 164 category matches, 1,206 web site matches, and 237,000 web rogue matches. This means that HIV/AIDS appears at least 238,370 times on th e creative activity wide web and it shows that AIDS in an important component of modern life.Not only are people becoming aware of the AIDS epidemic, but they are becoming aware of sexuality through learning about AIDS. Before the outbreak of this fatal virus sex was only spoken about discretely. Now even kids are being made aware of the dangers of sex and spreading HIV. In this way HIV/AIDS had a positive affect on the country. People are aware of the facts and in all likelihood make better decisions. Some experts have said that AIDS will remain the way it is now and others predict it growing into a huge epidemic (Taylor 28).Hopefully due to this expansion of knowledge and recognition, he AIDS virus will not spread as quickly and infect as many people as it has in the past. HIV positive, homosexual, male, Scott Fried, said, Ironically one of the blessings that HIV/AIDS has brou ght me is the abundance of love. . . and perchance that is true. Pertaining to the eighties and the early onset of the virus, AIDS caused much more commotion than love. However, every cloud has a silver lining and the hysteria has finally cleared up some myths. It has opened up the public to not only HIV/AIDS awareness, but sexual cognizance as well.