HIV and African Americans

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The term Human Immunodeficiency Virus is commonly known as (HIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their bodies. Without CD4 the human body is unable to fight against diseases, which can lead to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome known as AIDS for short. The first case of the HIV/AIDS virus in the U.S. occurred in the early 1980’s. The first spark of the virus was found in San Francisco with couple of homosexual Caucasian American males. Today African Americans account for the largest proportion of HIV and AIDS in this country, represent approximately 13% of the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2010(the last year a study was conducted). Over the past several years or so the U.S. have seen a striking increase in HIV infection rates amongst adolescents (age 13 to 17) and young adults between the ages of eighteen to twenty-four. “[in] 2010, 72 percent of the estimated 12,000 new HIV infections in young people occurred in young men who have sex with men, and nearly half of new infections were among young, black males” (FOX NEWS). Dr. Kevin Fenton who’s the director of the Nation Center for HIV/AIDS prevention at the CDC said the set of new data they received are stark and worrying.
For the past thirty years the HIV virus within the black community has seen a massive spread, based on the lack of prevention efforts. From studies, it is clear to say HIV has, created a serious health crisis among black adolescent males and young adults. Americans need to come forward and push for prevention efforts that will target all Africans Americans regardless of their sexual orientation in order to help slow down the spread of this urgent...

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Priest, Dana. "U.S. Is Urged to View AIDS as Racial Issue; Panel Points to Social, Economic Factors: [FINAL Edition]." Remote Database User Authentication, Montgomery College Libraries/"ProQuest" Washigton Post Digital, 12 Jan. 1993. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “U.S Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), Inventory of programs, Activities and Initiatives Focus on Improving the Health of Individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions” Under the direction of Anand Parekh, MD,MPH, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Science and Medicine), Office of the Assistant secretary of Health. September 2011. WEB 22 NOV 2013.

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