Neda Zafari
The Human Immune Virus (HIV) has posed a significant threat all over the world. According to a report released at the end of 2012, roughly 34 million people worldwide were infected with HIV. Africa continues to be hit worse than any other country in the world by the epidemic. In 2012, Africa accounted for nearly half of all deaths due to AIDS-related illnesses. According to HAPCO, 1.1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV, with noticeable regional differences. AIDS is one of the most devastating epidemics that the world has ever seen. Approximately 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, with roughly two-thirds of them residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been found to postpone the onset of AIDS, resulting in a stronger and longer-lasting virologic and immunologic response, as well as a better prognosis. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, from just a few years ago to now100,000 people in 2003 to 3.9 million in 2009, accounting for nearly 40% of those in need of treatment.