The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is currently one of the most fatal viruses in the nation, making it a serious public health concern in most major U.S. cities as well as in countries worldwide. According to an article by January W. Payne on the Obama Administration HIV/AIDS Campaign, every 9.5 minutes a person becomes infected with the virus which accumulates to it being 56,000 Americans per year. HIV is a retrovirus which wipes out the vital immune cells in the human body (Pharmacy Update: Drug treatments of HIV). Although the origin of this deadly virus is unclear, there have been theories to its origin; the main theory is that HIV is a descendant of a closely related virus called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which affects monkeys. In other words, this virus (simian immunodeficiency virus) crossed over to humans through a process called zoonosis. As people killed monkeys for food they became infected themselves. Even though there is no cure for this mortal virus, there are numerous ways that can help prevent someone from contracting it (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
One of the ways one can avoid acquiring HIV/AIDS is by having protected sex. The most common forms of sexual intercourse by which the virus can be transmitted include vaginal sex (penis in the vagina), anal sex (penis in the anus), and even oral sex (mouth on the penis or vagina). According to Ned E. Heltzer, the author of an article from The AIDS Reader, one way of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS is by wearing a condom. However the condom used just cannot be a regular condom but a latex one. The reason for using a lubricated condom is that Lambskin and natural membrane condoms are not effective forms of disease prevention because the material contains pores that may allow the passage of viruses such as HIV/ AIDS. The way a condom helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids is because the condom acts like a barrier against...

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