Since the first cases of AIDS were identified more than 25 years ago, millions of people around the world have become infected with HIV, and the epidemic has claimed millions of lives. Globally, there are an estimated 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS, including more than one million in the United States. While there have been successes in addressing the epidemic on many fronts, multiple challenges remain in the areas of prevention, care and treatment, research, infrastructure and capacity development, and funding.

The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further.
HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.       (more…)