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HIV Overview

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system, multiplying and spreading from cell to cell at incredible speed, damaging and destroying cells. At first, the immune system fights back by producing new cells, but eventually, HIV causes so much damage that the immune system can no longer keep up. When this happens, T-cells drop below 200 and AIDS develops.

Incidence and Prevalence of HIV

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 33.2 million people worldwide are living with HIV infection, and an estimated 14,000 new infections occur each day. Of these new infections, more than 90% occur in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia.

In the United States, HIV infection rates remain high in urban minority populations, in men who have sex with men (MSM), and in people who use injection drugs.

HIV/AIDS, HIV Overview, Incidence and Prevalence of HIV reprinted with permission from healthinfo.healthcommunities.com
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