When we commonly think about AIDS (uncensored), we deem it as the “gay disease” or something of the sort. However, the history of the origin and development of this disease is hardly contained to one set of sexual preference. In fact, today there is roughly 33 – 40 million people living with AIDS all from different decents, backgrounds, religious and sexual preferences.
The first documentation of AIDS took place in 1981 when there was several citings of a rare cancer known as Kaposi’s sarcoma in several homosexual males. Research showed an increased risk of developing this rare disease from an autoimmune disorder. In less than a year, people at risk for contraction included intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs. Although the transmission method could be seen as a commonality, it wasn’t until 1983 when scientists found the virus being transmitted: HIV. In later years of analysis, it was actually found that a man from Bantu who died of an unidentified illness in the Belgian Congo in 1959 was found to have the AIDS virus in a blood sample performed decaded later. This suggests that this virus was around for decades even before it was first declared by scientists. While this information exists, 1981 still stands as the first documented cases. This could be because it was the beginning of what would turn into be a global problem. In just 2 years, over 33 countries reported cases of the AIDS virus
.The early 90′s was a time for great discoveries involving AIDS including the formation of AZT, a drug used to suppress the onset of AIDS from HIV. Although this temporary medication showed great results, the statistics of victims continued to rise claiming more than seven million people by the end of the 90′s. Into 2000-2005, research has continued but there is still no cure to be found. Billions of dollars are put in each year from private organizations and the governemnt to try and find a cure for this devestating virus.
The question I ask is how AIDS came to be. If there are citings as early as 1959, and yet the diease did not become out of control in the 1980′s, there must be a reason or explanation. Dr.Beatrice Hahn developed a theory originating for chimpanzes in Africa. She was able to describe the transmission and explain the lapse in time from the first citing to the development of an epidemic. “Chimpanzees are frequently hunted for food, especially in West-Central Africa, and we believe that HIV-1 was introduced into the human population through exposure to blood during hunting and field dressing of these animals,”
She further believes that while incidental transmissions of chimpanzee viruses to humans may have occurred throughout history, it was the socio-economic changes in post-World War II Africa that provided the particular circumstances leading to the spread of HIV-1 and the development of the AIDS epidemic. “Increasing urbanization, breakdown of traditional lifestyles, population movements, civil unrest, and sexual promiscuity are all known to increase the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and thus likely triggered the AIDS pandemic.”
While there is still no cure, several victims of HIV are yet to develop AIDS for sometimes several decades. Constantly, research is being done to stop the transmission of AIDS.
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