Question

What is the definition of a pandemic? How does a pandemic differ from an endemic or epidemic? What is the life cycle of the HIV virus once it enters the body? How does the genetic code of the virus change? How does HIV affect the body? How do people become infected with HIV? How does AIDS develop from an HIV infection? What are the current infection rates of HIV across the globe? Where is HIV/AIDS most prevalent? What treatments are currently available for HIV/AIDS? Do some regions of the world have better access to treatments than others? What is the average life expectancy for someone with HIV? Does life expectancy differ around the globe?

Answer 1

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Learning the basics about HIV can keep you healthy and prevent HIV transmission. You can also download materials to share or watch videos on basic information about HIV.

What is HIV?

HIV Overview

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.

But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

Where did HIV come from?

History of HIV

HIV infection in humans came from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa.

The chimpanzee version of the virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) was probably passed to humans when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with their infected blood.

Studies show that HIV may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans as far back as the late 1800s.

Over decades, HIV slowly spread across Africa and later into other parts of the world. We know that the virus has existed in the United States since at least the mid to late 1970s.

To learn more about the history of HIV in the United States and CDC’s response to the epidemic, see CDC’s HIV and AIDS Timeline.

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