World AIDS Day 2008

“AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981 and has since become a major worldwide epidemic. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. By killing or damaging cells of the body's immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. People diagnosed with AIDS may get life-threatening diseases called opportunistic infections. These infections are caused by microbes such as viruses or bacteria that usually do not make healthy people sick.

Since 1981, more than 980,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to CDC, more than 1,000,000 Americans may be infected with HIV, one-quarter of whom are unaware of their infection. The epidemic is growing most rapidly among minority populations and is a leading killer of African-American males ages 25 to 44. According, AIDS affects nearly seven times more African Americans and three times more Hispanics than whites. In recent years, an increasing number of African-American women and children are being affected by HIV/AIDS.” From the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htm)

Since 1981:

· 2.9 million people lost their lives in 2006 from AIDS.

· 4.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2006.

· 39.5 million people around the world are living with AIDS/HIV in 2006.

· Approximately 11 of every 1,000 adults (ages 15 to 49) are HIV infected.

· 25 million children will be orphans by 2010 because of AIDS

· Over 25 million people have died since the first AIDS case was identified in 1981.From AidsFactSheet.com

Ryan White would be 37.

Freddie Mercury would be 61.

Pedro Zamora would be 36.

Eliana Martínez would be 27.

AIDS does not discriminate. Young, old, gay, straight, trans, cis, Hispanic, Caucasian, Black, purple and blue. This needs to end. What are you doing to stop AIDS in 2008 and 2009?