HIV and AIDS are diseases that spread throughout the world by sexual contact. They came to the forefront of the national scene with many famous actors, singers, athletes, playwrights, and members of the arts community being infected. Formerly they were death sentences but now there are adequate treatments exists, consisting of highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. However, these treatments are so expensive.

Several trends indicate that this disease is increasing in staggering numbers and within the next 20 years, will reach truly epidemic proportions, said Dr. Marcus A. Conant, clinical adjunct professor at the University of California at San Francisco, speaking at the 2009 American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco March 7th. “Currently, 58,000 individuals become infected with HIV each year, the same number as the total number of American soldiers who died in all the years of the Vietnam conflict.”

“But the numbers are increasing and are bound to increase more. For example 20% of black males in New York between the Ages of 40 and 49 are infected. And only a small number know they are infected.”

Why is this number increasing? First and foremost, sexual behavior patterns. In years gone by, individuals were monogamous. Now, many individuals have more sexual partners, and often have more than one within a short period of time.

Second, circumcision prevents the spread of aids. Less individuals are circumcised.

Third, drug usage affects sexual behavior. Years gone by, cocaine and heroin were the drugs of choice in the sexually active communities. Now, methamphetamine is much more in vogue. It’s a stimulant, and under its influence, young adults have several sexual encounters. “Couple that with Viagra, and Viagra is most commonly used in young adult males, and you have a critical situation,” says Conant.

Fourth, immigration from affected nations is increasing to the United States and people are not screened.

Which states and cities will be involved? The Southern United States -California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Missouri (the meth capital of the United States) and large cities like Chicago and New York.

What can be done to avoid this disaster? Public education, use of condoms, and adopting a different attitude. “Permissiveness is causing this to spread.” “Preachers can take a more active role”.

Africa has been a place having the highest number of HIV/AIDS patients on the world. nfected truck drivers transmitted the disease to bar workers and the disease was then spread to others in the community. Reviewing the reasons causing the disease in Africa, people found that the disease will spread throughout the southern United States soon for similar reasons. Therefore, to prevent this epidemic, The United States need to learn from this experience.

World Aids Day is a big day celebrated imposingly throughout the world anually to make more and more people aware of the dreadful mass disease. With so many people becoming AIDS victims, researchers from across the world are busy engaged in experiments for coming out with innovative methods to prevent AIDS disease and drugs that can combat the virus efficiently.

World Aids Day has been observed as AIDS Education day, sharing of knowledge, and prevention to millions of people.

AIDS Education was given to thousands of sex workers at several places across the world. Safe sex practices were advocated to see that AIDS is checked at the source point itself.

This free information was also given to hard/drug addicts, who are a very high risk group for the disease. They were told of the mantra ‘one needle/one time/one man’ and educated of the use of disposable syringes and/or autoclaved needles.

Furthermore, health education was given to health care practitioners who continually engage with AIDS patients. The importance of careful disposal of contaminated body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic, peritoneal and pleural fluids, was emphasized and strict compliance with standard disposal measures were advocated to them.

Although the scientists are continuous to research and find out the solutions, there have been no drugs to treat this disease effectively. Therefore education and awareness itself are considered necessary requirements for the prevention of this deadly disease. Next time when you confront an AIDS patient you know to be compassionate with him and you also know how to handle him.