With a disease that discriminates against any group, HIV/AIDS is a disease that is affecting the world at an alarming rate. No matter your age, gender, race, sexual orientation, this disease affects every demographic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), “there were approximately 2.5 million new cases of HIV worldwide in 2011. Approximately 34.2 million people are living with HIV worldwide ”. There are many myths and confusion about this disease, and in this article I will discuss what HIV and AIDS are, as well as the impact they are having around the world. While there is no cure for this disease, there are ways that you are less likely to get the disease, as well as medical treatments you can receive to slow its progression. The human immunodeficiency virus; better known as HIV, it was discovered by researchers looking for the cause of AIDS. The first discovery of the virus was made in 1984. There is some controversy as to who discovered it first, but the fact remains that the cause of AIDS has been identified. In 1987, researchers got together and named it human immunodeficiency virus. This virus takes control of the CD4 cells of the immune system and duplicates itself. Although the damage done by HIV is extensive, it starts slowly and eventually destroys the immune system. The virus will slowly destroy the body, making it very weak. When the immune system is weak it is more susceptible to opportunistic infections. By the time CD4 cells, or immune cells, have reached levels below 200, HIV has now progressed to AIDS, also known as autoimmunodeficiency syndrome. When some HIV symptoms are present all at the same time, it is then diagnosed as autoimmunodeficiency.... .. middle of paper ......ids-101/how-you-get-hiv-aids/AIDS Info. (2013 , September 27). HIV prevention. Retrieved from http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/education-materials/fact-sheets/20/48/the-basics-of-hiv-preventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2013, April 23). Statistics overview. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/basics/index.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (May 22, 2013). HIV incidence. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/surveillance/incidence/index.htmlHIV Health Reform. (2014). Living with HIV? 5 facts. Retrieved from http://www.hivhealthreform.org/living-with-hiv/Mayo Clinic. (2012, August 11). Treatments and medications. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/basics/treatment/con-20013732Office of NIH History (n.d.). Discovery of HIV. Retrieved from http://history.nih.gov/NIHInOwnWords/docs/page_04.html