Today, the 20th year of the event, will be no different. People will gather to remember loved ones, as well as bring awareness to an illness that continues to spread and harm people throughout the world, from Africa to Cochise County.
We shouldn’t hide away today. We should, instead, consider HIV and AIDS as another challenge that the people of the world must stand up to. Continued prevention education and treatment are needed to make sure this deadly illness, which has been described as an epidemic, does not grow out of control.
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First, for us to battle the illness, we all must know what it is. According to worldaidsday.org: “HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system — the body’s defense against diseases. The latest research suggests that between 70 and 90 percent of people may experience symptoms a few days after having been infected. Three symptoms occurring together: fever, rash and a severe sore throat should always be considered a potential indicator of HIV infection. These symptoms usually disappear within two or three weeks. Other people may not have symptoms to start with. In all cases, without effective treatment the immune system will eventually become very weak and no longer be able to fight off illnesses.”
It also should be realized that HIV and AIDS are different. Someone can live with the HIV virus in their body. But it is considered AIDS when their immune system becomes weak enough that it can no longer fight off diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States. The CDC estimates there are 56,000 new cases every year. And who are the populations that are at greatest risk? The CDC reports that gay and bisexual men, as well as some minorities, have the most severe rates of infection.
While there have been advances in treatment to help people live longer, those efforts shouldn’t stop. The government and private organizations need to continue to do research to see if a cure can be found to the HIV virus, or if more effective treatments can be used on those who are infected.
And there must be educational campaigns on all levels of society. In the 1980s, when World AIDS Day was started, the awareness to a new virus and illness was heightened. Over the past 20 years, that focus has waned, and infection rates have been stable. Future generations need to know about this deadly disease and how it can be prevented. It’s a matter of education, and World AIDS Day can help to remind us all of the importance of this.
On the Net
• Centers for Disease Control HIV/AIDS Web site: www.cdc.gov/hiv/
• World AIDS Day: worldaidsday.org
