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The acronym AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.  The viral disease caused by HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus.  It attacks body’s immune system and leaves it vulnerable to other infections and diseases, such as pneumonia.  •There is currently no cure, but there are many drug treatment options.  AIDS is becoming a threat to national security around the world but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where the disease evolved.  •AIDS can be transmitted only through sexual intercourse with an infected person, contact with contaminated blood, transmission from an infected mother to her child before or during birth or during breastfeeding.

 

 

 

 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), grown in
cultured lymphocytes. Virions are seen as small
spheres on the surface of the cells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The symptoms of AIDS appear to be flu-like with nausea, fever, sore throat, and headache.  These symptoms last about four weeks, until the body starts to battle HIV.  The infected person may then enter a symptom free period lasting ten years or longer. 

Due to a lack of a cure, AIDS could be used as a biological weapon.  The difficult transmission limits the threat posed.

 

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