Human Immunodeficiency Virus In The 1920's

In the 1920’s, the first know introduction of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in our society has been discovered in Kinshasa, now called the Dominican Republic of Congo (Avert.org). Years later, HIV/AIDS is still considered a global issue and continues being considered a wicked problem in our global community. There are many theories from where the virus had come from. The advancement of technology and resources has provided an increased knowledge on the matter throughout the years. Present day, abstinence is the best way to avoid contracting the virus since it cannot be spread from airborne activity and physical contact. Our society works systemically in many ways in order to prevent, treat

and inform global communities on the matter of HIV/AIDS.
To go into detail about what was mentioned earlier, there are several theories that have emerged on the matter of “where did the virus HIV/AIDS come from?” Some believe that the creation of the HIV/AIDS virus was a curse, a genetic modification and even an epidemic that came from smallpox vaccinations. Research shows that the origin of the HIV virus comes from a strain called SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) which is a virus that attacks the immune systems of monkeys and apes (avert.org). The transfer of the SIV strain from primates to humans suggests that hunters had butchered and consumed chimps or that the blood from chimps had gotten into the hunter’s open wounds resulting in the contraction of the virus.
There are two known forms of the HIV virus.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 are both viruses that attack the human immune system, but are contracted differently. Research shows that the strain HIV-1 was contracted from chimpanzees compared to HIV-2 which was contracted from sooty mangabeys (avert.org). Globally, “more than 90% of HIV infections are of the HIV-1 strain” (Madden, 2011). If one has contracted the HIV virus and does not seek medical attention, the introduction of other infections and diseases, including AIDS can occur. As mentioned earlier, HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans. By this occurring, white blood cells that are significant in fighting off infection are being destroyed. Initially, this makes the human body susceptible and vulnerable to contracting new infections and diseases. There are three stages in which the HIV virus goes through in order to develop into AIDS. These three stages include: acute HIV infection, clinical latency and then AIDS. Stage one of the infection occurs two to four weeks after contracting the virus. In most cases, flu like symptoms will occur as the body’s response to the virus. The second stage of the HIV virus, victims will show little to any symptoms of the virus. The virus is continuing to reproduce, but at a slower rate compared to stage one. In the final stage of the HIV infection, one’s immune system is already in a severe state and the body is extremely vulnerable to infection. Without treatment in stage three of the HIV virus, one typically is given an average of two to three

years.
Looking at HIV/AIDS on a global scale, 36.7 million people are currently living with the virus. 1.8 million of those individuals are children that have “contracted the virus from their HIV- positive mothers from pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding” (. A little over half (60%) of the individuals living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are aware that they have the virus and are working towards receiving treatment. Majority of people (24.7 million) living with the HIV virus are currently living in sub-Saharan Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean come next to the largest amount of individuals living with the HIV virus at two million people, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia come in third with 1.5 people living with the HIV virus (KFF.org)
There are several ways for the HIV virus to spread throughout individuals and communities. The transmission of HIV is through only certain bodily fluids including blood,

semen, rectal and vaginal fluids and breast milk. One can only contact the HIV if they come in contact with someone where HIV is present and finds a way into their body through the bodily fluids discussed earlier. Examples of contracting the disease is having unprotected intercourse with someone who is infected with the virus, anal and oral sexual activity, reusing needles for drug purposes that were previously used by someone with the virus, blood transfusions, childbirth, breastfeeding, etc. Ways to prevent transmission of the HIV virus is to avoid contact of bodily fluids with someone who infected and to regularly get tested to insure that the virus is not present in one’s system and to receive medical care as soon as possible if one is infected.
If one has tested positive with the HIV virus, there are treatments available if discovered within the second stage of the virus. One of the main global problems with the HIV/AIDS epidemic is that less developed countries do not have the resources or provided health care in order to help treat individuals infected with the virus.