Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 1 P10 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 78 ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME What Causes AIDS and What Does Not Since the first . case was identified in 1981 acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS has grown into an epidemic that has as of 2007 caused the death of 545 805 persons in the United States. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV AIDS estimates that at the end of 2007 there were 33 million people living with HIV AIDS worldwide. During 2007 AIDS caused the deaths of an estimated 2 million people. At that time women were increasingly affected by AIDS it was estimated that women comprised approximately 50 percent of persons living with HIV or AIDS worldwide. No cure has been found although existing treatment employing multiple drugs has made substantial gains in prolonging life and reducing pain. Despite the limits in medical treatment however much is known about the disease. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus HIV . Transmitted by bodily fluids from person to person HIV invades certain key blood cells that are needed to fight off infections. HIV replicates spreads and destroys these host cells. When the body s immune system becomes deficient the person becomes AIDS-symptomatic which means the person develops infections that the body can no longer ward off. Ultimately a person with AIDS dies from diseases caused by other infections. The leading killer is a form of pneumonia. Most of the fear surrounding AIDS has to do with its most common form of transmission sexual behavior. The virus can be passed through any behavior that involves the exchange of blood semen or vaginal secretions. Anal intercourse is the highest-risk activity but oral or vaginal intercourse is dangerous too. Thus federal health authorities recommend using a condom yet they caution that condoms are not 100 percent effective condoms can leak and they can break. Highly accurate HIV testing is widely available and often advisable since infected people can feel perfectly healthy. Although the virus can be .
