AIDS (880 words) Essay Example For Students

AIDS (880 words) Essay AIDSIn some parts of the world there are still wars being fought and dictators inpower. There are societies which consider themselves at the peak of evolutionand progress. They are able to create state of the art automobiles, luxurioushomes, efficient and organized industries, complex computerized machinery andatomic weapons. Many societies are governed by a democratic system which heralda belief in freedom. All societies, regardless of their political and economicmakeup, are also ruled by a special class of dictators; these dictators areunseen to the naked eye, and are invincible. These invisible tyrants aremicroorganisms. Underdeveloped countries, technologically advanced countries,and those in between are at the mercy of these microorganisms, which come inmany forms viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. The most dangerous of theseforms is the virus. Some viruses, such as the common flu, are considered to havea fairly detrimental capacity. The flu can incapacitate a human for se veralweeks with various symptoms such as bodily soreness, fever, bronchialcomplications, and even pneumonia. But while these conditions can be painful andfrightening, we are usually confident that proper medication and rest will takecare of the matter. However there is a much more severe and indiscriminatetyrant, with enormous corrupting influence, capable of infiltrating all ofcivilization. Scientifically, it is a submicroscopic pathogen consisting of aparticle of nucleic acid, enclosed in proteins, and able to replicate onlywithin a living cell. Socially, it is responsible for an enormous amount ofchaos and fear in the world today, and pronounces the human fault of ignorance. Can it be considered to be a modern plague? This complex and confusing king ofall tyrants is called Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. HIV is a retrovirus. Retroviruses are commonly identified in many animal species, but HIV and itsvariants, such as HTLV I, HTLV II, HTLV III are among the rare retrovirusesfound in humans. It is transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. HIV is a retrovirus of the Lentivirus group and is the etiologic agent ofAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS was first recognized as adisease syndrome in 1981; HIV was identified as its cause in 1984. AIDS is alife and death issue. To have the AIDS disease is at present a sentence of slowbut inevitable death. There currently is neither a cure, nor an effectivetreatment, and no vaccine either. But there are things that have been provenimmensely effective in slowing the spread of this hideously lethal disease. Scientist believe that the disease originated somewhere in Africa about 20 yearsago. HIV antibodies were found in serum drawn in parts of Africa in the early1970, leading many investigators to believe that the disease originated inAfrica, spreading to the Caribbean, and then to the United States. In Africa itfirst appeared as a mysterious ailment afflicting primarily heterosexuals ofboth sexes. It probably was spread especially fast by female prostitutes livingthere. AIDS has already become a crisis of staggering proportions in parts ofAfrica. In Zaire, it is estimated that over twenty percent of the adultscurrently carry the virus. That figure is increasing. On a global scale, theAIDS epidemic is rapidly expanding. Africa, which represents about 10 percent ofthe global population, now accounts for more than 60 percent of the total HIVinfections among adults worldwide. In comparison, North America and SouthAmerica combined account for less than 20 percent of the adult HIV infections. More than 90 percent of HIV infections in Africa are due to heterosexualtransmission. An AIDS epidemic is also emerging in Asia, where new HIVinfections increased by 80 percent in the last three years, and estimates fromthe World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that AIDS in Asia will causeunprecedented rates of infection and death. The major strain of HIV in the NorthAmerica, Europe, and central Africa is known as HIV-1. In western Africa, AIDSis also caused by HIV-2, a strain of HIV closely related to HIV-1. Otherdistantly related strains of HIV-1 have been identified in various areas of theworld. Although some of these strains cannot be detected using the currentblood-screening methods, there is little risk of spread to North America becauseof the geographic isolation of these viruses. Even in the case of HIV-2, spreadoutside Africa is rare. Only 18 cases of HIV-2 have been documented in theUnited States, and transmission in these cases was linked directly to westernAfrica. Curr ently, this invisible tyrant is so dominant that our basic values ofMake Love not War have been twisted into an anxious cry ofMake Love and Die. This disease is causing a great deal of pain andsorrow. We need to reason and evaluate the truth of the matter and to adapt to away of life in order to minimize further casualties. If we declare war on HIV,educate in preventing the spread of this disease, and avoid stigmatizing anddiscriminating based on misinformation, we are well on our way to at leastneutralizing HIV. Moral awareness should also be increased in an effort to havebetter use of the education we possess. This includes those in the medicalprofession. At this juncture, the chance to find a cure for retroviruses,especially the HIV virus, are less likely than it is for the virus to evolveinto a non-deadly form. Perhaps then it will come to be considered one of thelesser, invisible tyrants. Once again I ask Is AIDS a modern plague?I guess it remains to be seen.