Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system and destroying or impairing their function.
As the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to infections. 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.
HIV disease continues to be a serious health issue for parts of the world.
Worldwide, there were about 2.5 million new cases of HIV in 2011. About 34 million people are living with HIV around the world. In 2011, there were about 17 million deaths in persons with AIDS, and nearly 30 million people with AIDS have died worldwide since the epidemic began. Even though Sub-Saharan Africa bears the biggest burden of HIV/AIDS.
Countries in South and South east Asia,
Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and
those in Latin America are significantly
affected by HIV and AIDS.