HIV and AIDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

HIV and AIDS - Essay Example Prior to the 1980’s, medical records have no exact number of the number of deaths resulting from the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The disease was relatively unknown so the signs and symptoms could not be easily diagnosed. There is uncertainty surrounding the origin of the virus. Scientists now claim that it has possible links with Africa (avert.org, n.d.). The first major report in the United States of America about AIDS came in the form of a report published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 1981. In the AIDS Public Information Data for 1981 – 2002 there is a report on the number of cases of the disease as it relates to the different states, location, demographics and HIV exposure group. In the early years of the disease there was a strong belief that it was only prevalent among homosexual males and the possibility of it being transferred to heterosexual partners was low. The July 3, 1981 publication of The New York Times said, â€Å"Dr. Curran said that there was no apparent danger to non homosexuals from contagion. ‘The best evidence against contagion’, he said, ‘is that no cases have been reported to date outside the homosexual community or in women.† Dr. Curran served as Coordinator for the CDC taskforce on Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections from 1981 to 1982. This belief, however, proved to be short-lived as there was evidence of the disease spreading to other groups towards the end of 1981. There were reports of the disease among those who had blood transfusions and the passing of the disease from mother to child was also recorded during this period. The disease was given the name Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in 1982 (avert.org, n.d.). By March of 1983 the CDC report included other population groups. According to the report (cdc.gov, 1983) â€Å"persons who may be considered at increased risk of AIDS include those with symptoms and signs suggestive of AIDS; sexual partners of