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AIDS Crisis of the 1980s. Mr. Phipps U.S. History. AIDS. 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
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AIDS Crisis of the 1980s Mr. Phipps U.S. History
AIDS Definition: Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome • 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 cell-mediated immune response • Manifested by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain rare cancers, especially Kaposi's sarcoma.
When, Where, Who, and Why • 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
Treatments 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 Beginning 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
Effects on Society • 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”
AIDS Today • 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