AIDS 

IDS is the Black Death of the 20th century. Close to 40 million people around the world have been infected by the AIDS virus since Dr. Gottlieb reported the first case in 1979. How is the AIDS virus transmitted? And why is AIDS so terrifying?

      Commonly known as AIDS, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome refers to a collection of symptoms rather than a unified disease. AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is transmitted via the exchange of blood or other bodily fluids. HIV is a retrovirus, which functions by transcribing RNA into DNA. The resulting DNA is then spliced into the host's normal DNA, where it is later transcribed to produce even more viruses. HIV attacks the body's natural immune system, which reduces the immune function and may even cause death. HIV does not immediately cause serious disease after entering the body. Instead, it may remain dormant for a period of from half a year to as long as several years. While the human immune system can normally deal with a wide range of foreign substances and microbes, HIV degrades the immune system and destroys its protective ability.

      AIDS is usually transmitted through sexual contact or exchange of blood, and can be transmitted from a mother to her child at birth or during nursing. AIDS cannot be transmitted by contact with an AIDS patient or article used by an AIDS patient. 

      While there is still no way to cure AIDS, many scientists around the world are currently in the midst of developing drugs that will save mankind from this dreaded scourge.