HIV and AIDS are diseases spread by sexual contact. They came to the forefront of the national scene with many prominent actors, sports figures, playwrights, and members of the arts community being infected. Formerrly they were death sentences but now adequate treatments exists, consisting of highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. Although available, this treatment costs about 20k per year.
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".
"In Africa, spread of this disease has largely been by the trans- Africa highway. Infected truck drivers transmitted the disease to bar workers and the disease was then spread to others in the community. " "We should learn from this experience. Soon the disease will spread throughout the southern United States for similar reasons," says Conant
