HIV/AIDS

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS

AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which originated in non-human primates in Sub-Saharan Africa and was transferred to humans during the late 19th or early 20th century.

Two types of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more virulent, is more easily transmitted and is the cause of the vast majority of HIV infections globally. The pandemic strain of HIV-1 is closely related to a virus found in the chimpanzees of the subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes, which lives in the forests of the Central African nations of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo (or Congo-Brazzaville), and Central African Republic. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to West Africa, along with its closest relative, a virus of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys), an Old World monkey inhabiting southern Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and western Ivory Coast.

AIDS LINKS

www.aids.org - An information site regarding HIV/AIDS.  A comprehensive collection of easy to understand fact sheets on HIV/AIDS treatments and conditions; including conventional, alternative, and complementary therapies. Updated regularly to keep up with the latest information.

www.aids.org/news/aids-treatment-news - Complete archive of AIDS Treatment News.  This internationally recognized treatment newsletter is an excellent resource for persons living with HIV/AIDS who are looking for information on new therapies.