Mr. Phipps
U.S. History

Definition: A cquired
I mmuno D eficiency
S yndrome
– AIDS is a severe immunological disorder caused by HIV
– Transmitted primarily through venereal routes or by exposure to contaminated blood or blood products
– Results in a defect in cellmediated immune response
– Manifested by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain rare cancers, especially Kaposi's sarcoma.

• The first few cases of AIDS were discovered in 1983
• Several young gay males in San
Francisco in 1983 were shown to be exhibiting symptoms of Kaposi’s
Sarcoma, a type of cancer, which was syptomatic of HIV/AIDS
• While it was considered a “Gay plague”
AIDS affected all types of people, including heterosexuals
• AIDS population highest with risky behaviors and at risk groups: particularly drug-users , sexually active people , people with multiple sexual partners , bi-sexual sex activity , gay sex , and unprotected sex with any infected partner, hemophiliacs , and the poor

AZT: an antiviral drug used in the treatment of AIDS which has side effects of liver damage and suppression of bone marrow
• Most HIV/AIDS drugs are used for treating regular infections and none of them are cures

The Myth: Nobody got AIDS from a monkey
• And the Band Played On talks about Patient Zero, a flight attendant who spread the disease through unprotected sex
(Proved false)
• Unsure of how AIDS actually started
• U.S. attention coincided with the outbreak of Kaposi’s
Sarcoma in SF in 1983

• Created increased prejudiced attitudes and activities targeting the LGBT community
• Prompted many protests over
Reagan’s lack of funding for
AIDS Research
• Forced increased research for
AIDS treatment with some treatment options, including the
AZT “cocktail”

• Africa – 20% = 5,000,000
• India - 8% = 3,970,000
• Urban neighborhoods around the U.S. - .6% =
900,000
• Many people still living with AIDS and receiving treatment